Books

Leiden: Jan Maire, 1637. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 4to (191 x 146 mm). 78, [2], 413, [35] pp., woodcut printer's device on title, 3 section-titles, woodcut initials, numerous woodcut text diagrams and illustrations, errata, French and Dutch privilege on Kkk3-4. Bound in contemporary French calf, gilt-decorated spine with 5 raised bands and gilt lettering in first compartment, red-sprinkled edges, marbled pastedowns (leather rubbed and scratched, wear to extremities, corners bumped and scuffed, spine ends somewhat scuffed, short split to upper hinge near head of spine). Only little even browning and minor occasional spotting of text, a few small light dampstains to blank margins, lower outer corner of gatherings L to X somewhat gnawed (up to 7 mm from corner but well away form text), upper margin of leaf 3K3 verso trimmed just touching initial headline letter. Provenance: from the library of French journalist and publisher Frédéric Decazes de…

A work published in 1637 by René Descartes, where he introduced the concept of analytical geometry, which is the study of geometry using algebra and the Cartesian coordinate system.