Bod-Inc: A-002
Aben Ezra, Abraham, Rabbi
De nativitatibus.
Analysis of Content
a2r Aben Ezra, Abraham, Rabbi: De nativitatibus. Incipit: ‘Dixit quoque Abraham iudeus optimum instrumentorum ad inueniendum gradum orientem . . .’ See Thorndike–Kibre 1015. Translation sometimes ascribed to Henricus Bate; see R. Levy, The Astrological Works of Abraham Ibn Ezra, Johns Hopkins Studies in Romance Literatures and Languages, 8 (Baltimore, Md., 1927), 27 and Thorndike II 928-9; according to A. Birkenmajer ‘A propos de l'Abrahamismus', Archives internationales d'histoire des sciences, 3 (1950), 378-90, the translation predates Henricus Bate.
c5r Bate, Henricus: ‘Prologus' addressed to Guilelmus de Moerbeka. Text dated October 1274.
c5r Bate, Henricus: Magistralis compositio astrolabii. R. I. Gunther, The Astrolabes of The World, II (Oxford, 1932), 368-76; see Thorndike–Kibre 14.
d4r Bate, Henricus: [Aequatorium planetarum.] Incipit: ‘Volentes quidem vera loca planetarum coequare per instrumentum nostrum ad hoc specialiter ingeniatum sic procedemus . . .’ See Thorndike–Kibre 1708; Glorieux, Répertoire, I 209c. On dating see A. Birkenmajer, ‘Henri Bate de Malines, astronome et philosophe du xiiie siècle', Communication faite à la Section de l'Histoire de la Civilisation (Sous-section: Histoire de la Pensée médiévale et moderne) du Ve Congrès International des Sciences Historiques (Extrait de La Pologne au Congrès International de Bruxelles) (Cracow, 1923), 8.
Imprint
Imprint: Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, 24 Dec. 1485. 4°.
Remarks: GW dates to 1484; the colophon reads: M.cccc.lxxxv. nona kalendas Januarii.
Collation
Collation: a–c8 d6.
Illustrations: Sixteen astrological diagrams.
References
ISTC: ia00009200
GW: GW 113;
Hain: H *21;
Goff: Goff A‑7;
BMC: BMC V 291;
Proctor: Pr 4407;
Others: CIBN A‑3; Essling 319; Redgrave 46; Rhodes 2; Sander 3; Sheppard 3700.
LCN: 14333052
Copies
Copy number: A-002(1)
Bound with:
1. Claudius Ptolemaeus, Quadripartitum, et al. Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, 15 Jan. 1484 (P‑532(2));
2. Alchabitius, Liber isagogicus. Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, [before 4 Nov.] 1485 (A‑158(2));
3. Firminus de Bellavalle, Opusculum repertorii pronosticon in mutationes aeris. Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, 1485 (F‑062(3)).
Binding: Contemporary (c.1485-90) Italian (Venetian) dark red goatskin over thick boards bevelled inwards. Originally five flat-topped round bosses on each cover, one now wanting. Four clasps (three star nails, but two are plain triangles) hinge on the upper cover. Catches in the form of inverted triangles with the points cut away, with central boss and floral ornament in relief; three nails. Covers tooled in blind with four four-line frames; mitred corners; in the outermost border, a ‘crocket' tool; in the innermost, an interlaced tool. Brown edges. Title in neat capitals along the fore-edge, PTHOL. ALCHAB. PLVVIIS. ABRAHAM. The edges of the boards are decorated with four lines on the bevel. Plain single headbands. Sewn on three double bands. The compartments of the spine have roundels on each side of a four-line saltire inside a four-line frame. Pastedown and free endleaf (wrapped round the first/last gathering) at each end. No watermark. Same shop: Venice, Bibl. Marciana, Inc. v. 265, Virgil, Opera. Venice: Baptista de Tortis, 1483; Tibullus, Elegiae, Catullus, Carmina. Venice: Andreas de Paltasichis, 1487, with the arms of Sanudo (London: Christie's, 21 Nov. 1985, lot 227); and Verona, Bibl. Civica, Inc. 109, Johannes Regiomontanus, Tabulae directionum profectionumque. Augsburg: Erhard Ratdolt, 1490.
Size: 255 × 154 × 55 mm.
Size of leaf: 211 × 153 mm.
Manuscript table of contents on the recto of the front endleaf, in the hand of Ashmole. Inside the lower cover: ‘Rich'; ‘W‑2-57'.
Provenance: William Lilly (1602-1681), 1633, who possibly purchased it from the books of William Bedwell (1563-1632); inside the lower cover: ‘8 Aug. 1633 pretium 2s 6d'. Elias Ashmole (1617-1692). Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1692. Transferred to the Bodleian Library in 1860.
SHELFMARK: Ashm. 465(4).
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