L'Astronomie
Paris: Société d'Edition "Les Belles Lettres" 1983. Hardcover. Octavo. LXXVIII, 228, [8]pp. Original orange cloth with black lettering on front cover and spine, and printer's device on front and back cover. Printer's device on title-page. Fascinating work on basic astronomy, combining physical skills and stellar legends. "De Astronomia" was first published, with accompanying figures, by Erhard Ratdolt in Venice, 1482, under the title "Clarissimi uiri Hyginii Poeticon astronomicon opus utilissimum". This work chiefly tells us the myths connected with the constellations, in versions that are chiefly based on "Catasterismi", a work that was traditionally attributed to Eratosthenes. Like the "Fabulae", the Astronomia is a collection of abridgments, and the style and level of Latin competence and the elementary mistakes (especially in the rendering of the Greek originals) were held by the anonymous contributor to the Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed., 1911, to prove that they cannot have been the work of "so distinguished" a scholar as G. Julius Hyginus. It was further suggested that these treatises are an abridgment made in the latter half of the second century of the "Genealogiae" of Hyginus by an unknown adapter, who added a complete treatise on mythology. Minor and sporadic pen underlining throughout. Text in French and Latin. Binding and interior in overall very good condition. vg. Item #26282
Price: $75.00