Pars prima Ephemeridum novarum et motuum coelestium quinqennalis, ad annos aerae Christianae 1636. 1637. 1638. 1639. 1640...

Stetini: Typis & impensis Georgii Rehtii [i.e. Rhetii], 1634. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good.

Lorentz Eichstadt. Pars prima Ephemeridum novarum et motuum coelestium quinqennalis, ad annos aerae Christianae 1636. 1637. 1638. 1639. 1640. : In luminarium motibus & eclipsibus ex tabulis Danicis Christiani S. Longomontani, in reliquis planetis ex tabulis Rudolphinis Joannis Kepleri juxta exquisitas nob. Tychonis Brahei observationes constructis, debitâ diligentiâ elaborata & supputata / à Laurentio Eichstadio, med. d. & physico ordinario in Veteri Sedino Pomeranorum. Cum paedia de utendi methodo. Stetini: Typis & impensis Georgii Rehtii [i.e. Rhetii], M. DC. XXXIX. [1639, i.e. 1634] First edition, this copy with variant, misprinted title page: "Georgii Rehtii," and "M. DC. XXXIX." 4to, [24], 100, [140]. Collation same as NYPL copy (3-ONT (Ephemeridum novarum et motuum) v. 1). Engraved title, charts, illustrations. Half polished calf lettered in gilt over paper covered boards. Worming and chipping to bottom foredge corner of first several leaves, not affecting any text. Two ownership signatures to title page, of of T. Wright dated 1796, and the other of Vincent Wing Junior. The German astronomer Lorentz Eichstadt (1596-1660) began issuing his ephemerides near the end of the sequence begun by Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), which expired in 1637. Houzeau & Lancaster list Eichastadt's Ephemerides as being published in three volumes, this the first in 1634, the second for years 1641-50 published in 1635, and the third for years 1651-65 in 1644. The title page on the second volume lists Georgii Rhetti as the printer and the year as MDCXXXIX, perhaps indicating this alternate title page for volume 1 was printed for the publication of volume 2 the following year. English astronomer Vincent Wing (1619-1668) issued his own ephemerides beginning in the year 1652, using the theory and tables from his "Harmonicon coeleste" published the prior year. However, Eichstadt's direct influence on Wing can be seen when plotting errors of the planetary positions for Venus and Mercury starting in 1656, perhaps even hinting at plagiarism; Eichstadt's work for these years was published 12 years prior. (Bryant Tuckerman. Planetary, Lunar, and Solar Positions, 601 B.C. to A.D. 1....American Philosophical Society, 1990). The early ownership signature of Wing on this particular volume gives it a wonderfully historic association in this context. Houzeau & Lancaster 15 146.