1582 ASTRONOMY LA SFERA DEL MONDO ANTIQUE astrologer Francesco Giuntini

Francesco Giuntini (1523-1590)

La Sfera del Mondo.

Lyon: Appresso Simforiano Beraud, 1582


First edition, octavo,

author portrait in woodcut medallion to title page;

illustrated with text diagrams,

lacking full page plate extraneous to the collation and one folding plate with parts of unconstructed volvelles

(all volvelles unconstructed in this copy)

bound in full later vellum, new endleaves; uncommon at auction


Giuntini was a Carmelite mathematician and astronomer. This particular work gives testimony to the intellectual creep Copernicus's heliocentric model had made some decades after its initial appearance on the scene, even in catholic astronomy.

"In his diagram [as seen on page 19 of the present work], Giuntini depicts the planetary system established by Copernicus. [...]
Preceding and following this diagram is Giuntini's brief description of the heliocentric theory: a central sun, above which are the 'heavens' of Mercury and Venus, the earth with its triple motion and lunar satellite, the 'heavens of Mars, Jove and Saturn, followed by the immobile eighth sphere. This 'opinione,' says Giuntini, is that previously held by Aristarchus Samius. [...]
That Giuntini was friendly toward the hypothesis is also implied by the high regard in which he held Copernicus and his early followers. [...]
To praise both Reinhold and Copernicus, to publish ephemerides based upon the heliocentric interpretation, and to present perhaps the earliest description and diagram of this interpretation to be printed in Italian, is evidence of a friendly interest in the Copernican hypothesis."
(Quoted from Grant McColley's "Francesco Giuntini and the Copernican Hypothesis," published in Popular Astronomy, vol. 45, page 70, February 1937.)
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a-z8, A8, B2.


Size 4 1/2 by 6 3/4"

Text in Italian
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