Accession No

6640

Brief Description

sundial and horology ephemera, including paper instruments, attributed to Mario Bettini, Italian, 17th and 18th century

Origin

Italy [based on attributed maker]

Maker

Bettini, Mario [attributed]

Class

dials; ephemera

Earliest Date

1601

Latest Date

1800

Inscription Date

Material

paper (paper, card)

Dimensions

225mm (width) x 275mm (height) x 13mm (depth)

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christie's, 8 King St., St. James', London, SW1Y 6QT. From the sale of the Giancarlo Beltrame Library of Scientific Books, Part III, 26/04/2017.

Inscription

Description Notes

Sundial and Horology ephemera, including paper instruments, Italian, 17th and 18th century.

A collection of sundial and horology ephemera dating from the early 17th century and the 18th century. Contained within three folds of paper within a card envelope which can be inserted into a marbled card case.

In one fold:

A sheet with an engraving of a horary quadrant (the hour lines are pinpricked to enable the user to transfer the projection). This is inscribed, Parma, 1601. On the same sheet is a projection for a pillar dial (also engraved). This is dated Parma, 1608. Also, a manuscript calendrical volvelle, fixed at the centre with two tabs at the edge; a page with an engraved quadrant for a surveying square; two manuscript projections for pillar dials.

In another fold:

A manuscript treatise on sundials (15 pages); a partial manuscript planetary table (12 pages); an annotated manuscript diagram for the use of a shadow square (one page); a manuscript diagram of a sundial construction (one page); a leaf of manuscript astronomical calculation.

In another fold:

Seven manuscript discs (uncut and unassembled) for a volvelle.

Good condition, complete.

References

Events