La theorique des cieulx et sept planetes, avec leurs mouuements, orbes & disposition [...].

8vo: 102-[2] ff. (toned, minor thumbing, fore-edge of 1st & last ff. sl. frayed, a couple of times touching illustrations).

Mod. overl. vellum-covered boards signed Michel Fassin (Barchon).

Very rare 2nd ed. (1st 1528) of the first treatise on astronomy in French. Oronce Fine (1494-1555) occupied the first chair of natural science at the Royal College. He also promoted modern cartography and participated in the construction of the astronomical clock of the library of Sainte-Geneviève. The “Theorique des cieulx” is an adaptation of Georg von Peurbach’s “Theoricae novae planetarum” (1474). The illustration-cycle comprises 47 woodcuts, all designed by Fine himself, presenting diagrams as well as astronomical figures and planetary constellations. “His work as a designer is closely related to his major fields of mathematics, astronomy and geography, and his contribution to book production is particularly interesting in extending beyond the illustration to the ornamentation of scientific texts” (Mortimer). Woodcut mark on title. Printed in italics. Ref. Renouard (Imprim.) Cavellat 118 (ext. descr.). - Hillard/Poulle (Finé) 41. - Pettegree FB 19794. - Not in Adams, BP16 (BnF has 1558 ed.), Mortimer (Harvard French), STC French (BL). Prov. Old ownership entry on old front flyleaf.