PECHAM, John.

Lutetiae [Paris]: Apud Aegidium Gourbinum… 1556

4to, 4 leaves (the last bank), 43 leaves. Without the final blank leaf l4 but with 18 other blank leaves bound in at the end. Woodcut device on title, two woodcut initials and headpieces, numerous woodcut diagrams, text printed in italics. 17th century English speckled calf, spine gilt in compartments and with red morocco label. A nice copy. Signature of W. Patten 1557 in upper corner of title, undoubtedly the first owner of this copy and possibly William Patten (d. 1598), author and government official; bookplates of the Turner Collection at Keele University, and David L. DiLaura.

Pecham’s textbook of optics, the principal work on the subject from when it was written in 1279 until the end of the sixteenth century, is here edited with a commentary by Pascal Duhamel, who added new figures for the text. Duhamel, who was mathematician to the French king, used Georg Hartmann’s edition of 1542 which became the standard.

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