[Sphaera] Sphaera Ioannis de Sacro Bosco emendata ... / nunc recenter compertis, & collectis à Francisco Iunctino Florentino ... Interserta etiam sunt Eliæ Vineti Santonis egregia Scholia in eandem Sphæram. Adiunximus huic libro compendium in Sphæram, per Pierium Valerianum Bellunensem, et Petri Nonij Salaciensis demonstrationem eorum, quæ in extremo capite de Climatibus Sacroboscius scribit de inæquali climatum latitudine, eodem Vineto interprete

Lyon: (Symphorien Barbier for) heirs of Jacobus Giunta, 1567. Paperback. Very Good. 8vo (159 x 105mm). [16], 207pp, [15] (of [17]) pages; lacks the final blank. Signatures: *(8), a-n(8), A(8). Woodcut printer’s device of fleur-de lis. Dedicated Thomas Gadagne of Lyon. With commentary by Élie Vinet (1509-1587), humanist of Bordeaux, and Giovanni Pierio Valeriano Bolzani. Numerous in-text woodcut illustrations and astronomical diagrams; but lacking the volvelles. Contemporary limp vellum; (recased, endpapers renewed; slight marginal dampstaining and occasional browning). Early 17th-century ownership inscriptions and names to title in Latin, “Canonici” could refer to “Canon” teachings and suggests a student association. The date “1642” is written on the bottom fore-edge and “1781” on the top fore-edge of the book, perhaps giving a range to this association. Sacrobosco’s Sphaera was widely copied in manuscript form and was also one the first scientific works to be published in 1472. It was particularly valued for its textbook knowledge. The Sphaera underwent more than 200 successive editions, up to the 17th century.

Sacrobosco’s popular, illustrated astronomical tract, the ‘Sphaera’ with commentary by Vinet, a textbook favorite for early humanists. This Giunta edition, augmented by mathematician Élie Vinet, was designed as a textbook for students competent in mathematics and geometry; but Vinet also combined his philological notes with parallel passages from ancient poets and elementary manuals. Interestingly, it is known that parts of Sacrobosco’s text survive in student notes contemporary to this period. Vinet’s translations into Latin and the vernacular as well as his short commentary all show the use of the Sphaera at an elementary level. This humanist approach to Sacrobosco was much resisted at first but importantly Vinet’s contributions paved the way for other commentators, most famously Christoph Clavius, to also make their additions. Seven copies are located at in US institutions and nine copies are located at European institutions, rather rarely found. Baudrier VI, p. 322-323; Houzeau and Lancaster 1657.