The First Six Books of Euclid With Coloured Diagrams.
by EUCLID.; Byrne, Oliver
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
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About This Item
1847. EUCLID. The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid, in which Coloured Diagrams and Symbols are used instead of Letters for the Greater Ease of Learners. By Oliver Byrne. xxix, [1], 268 pp., illustrated throughout with colour-printed diagrams. Small 4to, 237 x 188 mm., bound in original publisher's drab cloth, edges untrimmed, in a new half morocco protective box. London: [Charles Whittingham for] William Pickering, 1847. First and only edition of Byrne's Euclid, surely one of the most remarkable Victorian books. These Mondrian-like designs of bold, primary colours are printed in faultless register, and the striking composition on the page is unique in bookmaking. Ruari McLean describes it as "one of the oddest and most beautiful books of the whole century." Both McLean and Joan Friedman agree that it is Whittingham's "triumph." In describing the complicated printing processes, Friedman writes: "Although the areas of colour were all flat tones without any subtleties, it was absolutely necessary that register -- the proper positioning of the blocks for successive printings -- be perfect, so that the angles and lines meet each other at the proper places. Whittingham achieved this and at the same time designed a page of great elegance and balance." Oliver Byrne devised this edition of Euclid as a completely new system for learning geometry. He determined that by using colours (instead of letters) to indicate angles and lines for the various geometric figures, a student could comprehend Euclid's theories in less than a third of the time. This copy is bound in the plain remainder binding, which followed copies in both blue and red cloth. Foxing throughout, as is true in all copies; nevertheless an excellent unwashed, and fresh copy. PROVENANCE: From the library of Sir Robert Peel, with his bookplate. Friedman 43. McLean 70. Keyes, Pickering 53.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ursus Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 168501
- Title
- The First Six Books of Euclid With Coloured Diagrams.
- Author
- EUCLID.; Byrne, Oliver
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Date Published
- 1847
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
Terms of Sale
Ursus Books
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About the Seller
Ursus Books
Biblio member since 2007
New York, New York
About Ursus Books
Ursus Rare Books is renowned throughout the rare book world for handling outstanding copies of important rare books. Our inventory ranges from early printed books to modern livres d'artistes. Our particular strength is in illustrated books of all periods; from the 15th to 21st centuries. We also carry fine copies of literature in all languages, art and architecture, natural history, voyages and travels, landscape gardening and fine bindings. Ursus is dedicated to developing long term relationships with clients in helping them to form first class collections.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Remainder
- Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...