‎DOWNSBROUGH PETER (né en 1940)‎
‎From‎

‎Vampyr from the Crypt‎

‎ 1980 587x757mm THE CRAMPS (1975-2009)Vampyr from the CryptAffiche 587x757mm Sérigraphie en noir rouge et jaune, 1980.« A tale that will usher you into the house of fear/Starrinr The Cramps/Latex/Vampyre from the crypt/Adapatated and performed by The Cramps”Promotion pour le film fictif "Vampire From The Crypt" écrit et réalisé par les Cramps dont le titre est emprunté à la série "Tales from the Crypt" publiée par EC-Comics dans les années 50, culture que le groupe a toujours revendiquée.(104280) ‎

‎Figures Of the most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon plants described in The Gardeners dictionary, exhibited on Three Hundred Copper Plates, Accurately Engraven after Drawings taken from Nature. With The Characters of their Flowers ans Seed-Vesssels, Drawn when they were in their greatest Perfection. To which are added, their Descriptions, and an Account of the Classes to which they belong according to Ray’s, Tournefort’s, and Linnæus’s Method of Classing them. Magnifique édition originale du botaniste Philip Miller (1691-1771) ornée de 300 planches à pleine page coloriées à la main à l’époque.‎

‎Splendide recueil de fleurs et plantes délicatement coloriées à l'époque. London, Printed for the Author, John Rivington, 1755-1760.2 volumes in-folio de : I/ (3) ff., 100 pp. de texte, 150 planches à pleine page ; II/ (1) f., pp. 101 à 200, planches 151 à 300 dont 2 dépliantes, (2) ff. ; 3 premiers ff. du tome I restaurés et réemmargés sans manque, 5 pl. légèrement piquées, 8 brunies ou tachées, pte déchirure à 1 pl. dépliante sans manque. Un dessin à l'encre, non signé a été relié p. 30 du tome I. Demi-maroquin rouge à petits coins de vélin crème, dos à nerfs ornés, pièces de titre et de tomaison de maroquin olive, tranches dorées. Reliure moderne.410 x 252 mm.‎

‎Edition originale illustrée de 300 très belles planches hors texte gravées sur cuivre par Jefferys, Mynde, Miller..., dont 2 dépliantes, toutes finement coloriées à l'époque. Brunet, V, 1718 ; Nissen, 1378 ; Pritzel, 6241 ; Graesse, Trésor de livres rares, p. 525 ; Great Flower Books p. 121 ; Dunthorne 209 ; Henrey 1097 ; Hunt 566 ; Stafleu and Cowen TL2 6059.Splendide recueil de fleurs et plantes délicatement coloriées à l'époque. Philip Miller (1691-1771) fut l'un des grands admirateurs de Linné dont il adopta, à partir de 1768, les principes et la nomenclature. Le présent ouvrage fut commencé en 1755 et achevé seulement 5 ans plus tard.Miller succéda en 1722 à son père au poste de surintendant du jardin de la compagnie des apothicaires à Chelsea et, sous sa direction, ce riche établissement ne tarda pas à devenir le plus riche d’Europe pour les plantes étrangères.C'est par ses soins qu'un grand nombre de plantes exotiques ont été acclimatées avec succès en Angleterre ; et ses relations nombreuses et multipliées avec les plus célèbres botanistes, soit en Europe, soit dans les Indes, ont puissamment contribué à répandre les découvertes botaniques. Il se fit d'abord connaître par quelques mémoires insérés dans les Transactions philosophiques ; mais son Dictionnaire des jardiniers, publié en 1731, souvent réimprimé, mit le sceau à sa réputation. Linné disait que ce livre serait le dictionnaire des botanistes, plutôt que celui des jardiniers. L'auteur eut le bonheur peu commun d'en donner, trente-sept ans après, la huitième édition. Dans les premières, il n'avait suivi que les méthodes de Ray et de Tournefort ; mais dans l'édition de 1768, il employa les principes et la nomenclature de Linné, dont il finit par devenir un des plus zélés admirateurs.Conçu initialement comme un complément à une publication antérieure, l’ouvrage de Miller "is a sufficiently complete work and may be rated on its own merits" (Hunt). Dans la préface, Miller explique ses intentions de publier une planche pour chaque plante de chaque genre connu, mais il abandonna ce projet afin de se consacrer à "...those Plants only, which are either curious in themselves, or may be useful in Trades, Medicine, &c. including the Figures of such new Plants as have not been noticed by any former Botanists."“The plants illustrated were either engraved from drawings of specimens in the Chelsea Physic Garden or drawings supplied by Miller's numerous correspondents, including John Bartram, the Pennsylvania naturalist (cf. plate 272), and Dr. William Houston, who travelled widely in the Americas and West Indies and bequeathed Miller his papers, drawings, and herbarium (cf. plates 44 and 182). For the plants drawn from examples in the Garden, Miller employed Richard Lancake and two of the leading botanical artists and engravers of the period, Georg Dionysius Ehret and Johann Sebastian Miller. Like Miller's ‘Catalogus Plantarum’, many of the etched and engraved plates are delicately printed in colour to give a more life-like impression after hand colouring.”L’ouvrage parut au moyen d’une souscription, en 50 livraisons mensuelles, chacune contenant 6 planches, entre le 25 mars 1755 et le 30 juin 1760. L’ouvrage fut à nouveau imprimé en 1771 et en 1809.Très bel exemplaire provenant de la bibliothèque P. Barfoot avec ex-libris manuscrit.Les exemplaires complets de cette première édition sont rares.‎

‎The History and constitutions of the most ancient and honourable fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Containing an account of Masonry. I. From the creation throughout the known earth, till true architecture was demolished by the Goths, and at last revived in Italy. II. From Julius Caesar to the first arrival of the Saxons in Britain. III. From the union of the crowns of England and Scotland, in the person of king James the First, to the present time. To which are added: I. A list of the Grand Masters or Patrons of the Free Masons in England, from the coming in of the Anglo Saxons to these times, who are mentioned in this work. II. The old charges of the Masons, collected from their earliest records, at the command of his grace the Duke of Montague. III. The Manner of constituting a Lodge. IV. The general regulations of the free and accepted Masons, both ancient and modern, in distinct columns. V. The constitution of the Committee of their Charity. VI. A list of the Lodges in and about London and Westminster; with the deputations of several grand Masters for the forming of Lodges in Wales, the remote parts of England, and in foreign realms. VII. The songssung at the Lodges. VIII. A defence of Masonry, occasioned by a pamphlet called Masonry dissected: with Brother Euclids Letter to the author against unjust cavils. By James Anderson, D. D. London.‎

‎ 1746 Printedand fold by J. Robinson, at the Golden-Lion, in Ludgate-street. In the vulgar year of Masonry 5746 [1746]. Un volume petit in-4° (149 x 192 mm) de X+[2]+230+[2] pages; les pages 217-22 (cahier Ff) sont en double exemplaire, strictement identiques. Reliure de lépoque en veau marron, encadrement à froid sur les plats et filet doré le long des charnières, dos à nerfs orné de filets, pièce de titre en maroquin rouge, tranches mouchetées de rouge (dos anciennement remplacé et coins émoussés). Contenu : - Dédicace de louvrage au Prince de Galles Frédéric-Louis, par James Anderson; bandeau gravé avec les armes du prince, signé John Pine (pages III-VI).- «The author to the reader», et plan de louvrage, le tout daté de «Greter Court, Strand, 4 Nov. 1738» et signé James Anderson (pages VII-X). - «The sanction», i.e. approbation de louvrage par «John Rebis, secretary», «Caernarvon, Grand Master, John Ward, Deputy Grand Master, George Graham [&] Andrew Robinson Grand Wardens» (page 1 sans no).- planche gravée avec deux figures: lune représentant Hiram montrant le plan du temple au roi Salomon, dessin du frère J[ame]s Thornhill Esq. gravé par John Pine; lautre, anonyme, portant les armes et titres du marquis de Carnarvon, grand-maître en 1738 (page 2 sans no).- «The Constitutions Part I: The History of Masonry from the creation throughout the known earth; till true old architecture was demolishd by the Goths and at last revived in Italy », en sept chapitres: I. From the creation to Grand Master Nimrod, II. From Nimrod to Grand Master Solomon, III. From Solomon to Grand Master Cyrus, IV. From Cyrus to Grand Master Seleucus Nicator, V. From Seleucus to Grand Master Augustus Caesar, VI. From Augustus till the havock of the Goths, VII. The revival of old architecture, or the Augustans Stile»(pages 1-54). - «The Constitutions part II: The History of Masonry in Britain, from Julius Caesar, till the union of the crowns, 1603», en sept chapitres: I. From Julius Caesar to the first arrival of the Saxons in Britain, II. From the first arrival of the Saxons, to William the Conqueror, III. Masonry in England from William the Conqueror to King Henry IV, IV. Masonry in England from Henry IV to the Royal Tewdors, V. Masonry in England from King Henry VII till the union of the crowns, A. D. 1603, VI. Masonry in Scotland till the union of the crowns, VII. Masonry in Irland till Grand Master Kingston A. D. 1730» (pages 55-96). - «The Constitutions part III: The History of Masonry in Britain, grom the union of the crowns to the times» en sept chapitres: I. The Augustan stile in Britain, from the union of the crowns 1603, till the Restoration 1660, II. From the Restoration 1660, till the Revolution 1688, III. From the Revolution to Grand Master Montagu 1721, IV. From Grand Master the Duke of Montagu to Grand Master Richmond, V. From Grand Master Richmond to Grand Master Norfolk, VI. From Grand Master Norfolk to Grand Master Craufurd, VII. From Grand Master Craufurd to the present G. Master Caermarthen [biffé et remplacé par: Carnarvan]» (pages 97-142).- «The Old charges of the Free and Accepted Masons, collected by the author from their old records, at the command of the Grand Master the present Duke of Montagu. Approved by the Grand Lodge, and ordered to be printed in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions on 25 March 1722», en six articles : «I. Of God and religion , II. Of the Civil magistrate supreme and subordinate, III. Concerning lodges, IV. Of Masters, wardens, fellows, and prentices, V, Of the Management of the craft in working », VI. Concerning Masons behaviour, [soit] 1) In the Lodge before closing, 2) After the Lodge is closed and the Brethren not gone, 3) At meeting without strangers, but not in a formed Lodge, 4) In presence of strangers not Masons, 5) At home and in your neighbourhood, 6) Towards a foreign Brother or stranger, VII. Concerning Law-suits. The ancient manner of constituting a Lodge (pages 143-151).- « The general Regulations of the Free and Accepted Masons. Compiled first by Brother George Payne [] A. D. 1720, []. Next by order of the Duke of Montagu when Grand Master, the author James Anderson []and the Grand Lodge having revisd ans approvd them, order em to be printed in the Book of Constitutions on 25 March 1722», en 39 articles traitant de lorganisation interne de lordre (pages 152-176), suivis de «New regulations» jusquen 1736 (pages 176-178).- «The Constitutions of the Committee of Masons charity first proposed at the Grand Lodge on 21 Nov. 1724» (pages 178-184).- «A list of the Lodges in and about London and Westminster» (pages 184-190).- «Deputations of several Grand Masters, to Wales, the country of England, and foreign parts» (pages 190-198). « The approbation of this Book of the Constitutions» par les dignitaires de la Grande Loge, datée du «25th January 1737/8 in the vulgar, year of Masonry 1737/8» (page 199). - « The Masters song [] by the author of this book[Anderson]», en 6 couplets (pages 200-201).- « The Wardens song [] by the author of this book [Anderson]» en 2 couplets (page 202).- « The Fellow-craft song, by Brother Charles De La Fay Esq » en 6 couplets (pages 203-204). - « The Enterd Prentices song, by Brother Mr. Matthew Birkhead » en 7 couplets (page 204-206).- «The Deputy Grand Masters song», en 7 couplets (pages 206-207).- «The Grand Wardens song, by Brother Oates», en 4 couplets (pages 207-208).- «The Treasurers song» en 4 couplets (page 209).- «The Secretarys song» en 4 couplets (page 210).- «The Sword-bearers song» en 4 couplets (pages 211-212).- «An ode to the Free Masons» en 2 couplets (page 212).- «An ode an Masonry, by Brother J. Bancks» en 12 couplets (pages 213-215).- «A defence of Masonry, publishd A. D. 1730, occasiond by a pamphlet calld Masonry dissected» (pages 216-226). - «Brother Euclids letter to the author against unjust cavils» (pages 226-228).- liste des Frères et des Loges qui ont «encouragé» lauteur (pages 229-230).- «Corrigenda» (page 1 sans no).- Catalogue des libraires Caesar Ward et Richard Chandler (page 2 sans no). ‎

‎RARE REEMISSION DE LA SECONDE EDITION (1738) des Constitutions dAnderson sous une page de titre renouvelée. ce texte fondateur de la maçonnerie spéculative moderne fut rédigé en 1721-1722 par James Anderson (ca 1678-1739) - peut-être avec le concours de John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683-1744), mais la chose est aujourdhui contestée - à linitiative de John, 2eme duc de Montagu (1690-1749), grand-maître de la Grande Loge de Londres et de Westminster, afin de réguler des pratiques traditionnelles mais mal fixées. Si les Constitutions de 1723 ont été rédigées à lexpresse demande du groupement des loges créé en 1717, les Constitutions de 1738 relèvent dune initiative propre dAnderson, qui prit de grandes libertés doctrinales par rapport au texte primitif; de ce fait cette version ne fut jamais été reconnue comme officielle par la Grande Loge de Londres et de Westminster «et il a fallu plusieurs mises en vente avec de nouvelles pages de titre et frontispices pour en achever de vendre le stock» (Philippe Langlet: Les Constitutions de 1723 et leurs traductions en français). Ajoutons que la réémission de 1746 ne présente pas de frontispice du tout. Langue‎

‎The new book of Constitutions of the antient and honourable fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Containing their history, charges, regulations, &c. Collected and digested by order of the Grand Lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and Lodge-books, for the use of the Lodges. By James Anderson D. D.‎

‎ 1738 London: printed for Brothers Caesar Ward and Richard Chandler, booksellers, at the Ship without Temple-Bar; and sold at their shops in Coney-street, York, and at Scarborough-Spaw, 1738. In the vulgar year of Masonry 5738 [1738]. Un volume petit in-4° (155 x 189 mm) de X+[2]+230+[2] pages. Reliure de lépoque en veau marron, encadrement à froid sur les plats, dos à nerfs muet orné de filets (dos remplacé et coins refaits). Contenu : - Dédicace de louvrage au Prince de Galles Frédéric-Louis, par James Anderson; bandeau gravé avec les armes du prince, signé John Pine (pages III-VI).- «The author to the reader», et plan de louvrage, le tout daté de «Greter Court, Strand, 4 Nov. 1738» et signé James Anderson (pages VII-X). - «The sanction», i.e. approbation de louvrage par «John Rebis, secretary», «Caernarvon, Grand Master, John Ward, Deputy Grand Master, George Graham [&] Andrew Robinson Grand Wardens» (page 1 sans no).- planche gravée avec deux figures: lune représentant Hiram montrant le plan du temple au roi Salomon, dessin du frère J[ame]s Thornhill Esq. gravé par John Pine; lautre, anonyme, portant les armes et titres du marquis de Carnarvon, grand-maître en 1738 (page 2 sans no).- «The Constitutions Part I: The History of Masonry from the creation throughout the known earth; till true old architecture was demolishd by the Goths and at last revived in Italy », en sept chapitres: I. From the creation to Grand Master Nimrod, II. From Nimrod to Grand Master Solomon, III. From Solomon to Grand Master Cyrus, IV. From Cyrus to Grand Master Seleucus Nicator, V. From Seleucus to Grand Master Augustus Caesar, VI. From Augustus till the havock of the Goths, VII. The revival of old architecture, or the Augustans Stile»(pages 1-54). - «The Constitutions part II: The History of Masonry in Britain, from Julius Caesar, till the union of the crowns, 1603», en sept chapitres: I. From Julius Caesar to the first arrival of the Saxons in Britain, II. From the first arrival of the Saxons, to William the Conqueror, III. Masonry in England from William the Conqueror to King Henry IV, IV. Masonry in England from Henry IV to the Royal Tewdors, V. Masonry in England from King Henry VII till the union of the crowns, A. D. 1603, VI. Masonry in Scotland till the union of the crowns, VII. Masonry in Irland till Grand Master Kingston A. D. 1730» (pages 55-96). - «The Constitutions part III: The History of Masonry in Britain, grom the union of the crowns to the times» en sept chapitres: I. The Augustan stile in Britain, from the union of the crowns 1603, till the Restoration 1660, II. From the Restoration 1660, till the Revolution 1688, III. From the Revolution to Grand Master Montagu 1721, IV. From Grand Master the Duke of Montagu to Grand Master Richmond, V. From Grand Master Richmond to Grand Master Norfolk, VI. From Grand Master Norfolk to Grand Master Craufurd, VII. From Grand Master Craufurd to the present G. Master Caermarthen [biffé et remplacé par: Carnarvan]» (pages 97-142).- «The Old charges of the Free and Accepted Masons, collected by the author from their old records, at the command of the Grand Master the present Duke of Montagu. Approved by the Grand Lodge, and ordered to be printed in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions on 25 March 1722», en six articles : «I. Of God and religion , II. Of the Civil magistrate supreme and subordinate, III. Concerning lodges, IV. Of Masters, wardens, fellows, and prentices, V, Of the Management of the craft in working », VI. Concerning Masons behaviour, [soit] 1) In the Lodge before closing, 2) After the Lodge is closed and the Brethren not gone, 3) At meeting without strangers, but not in a formed Lodge, 4) In presence of strangers not Masons, 5) At home and in your neighbourhood, 6) Towards a foreign Brother or stranger, VII. Concerning Law-suits. The ancient manner of constituting a Lodge (pages 143-151).- « The general Regulations of the Free and Accepted Masons. Compiled first by Brother George Payne [] A. D. 1720, []. Next by order of the Duke of Montagu when Grand Master, the author James Anderson []and the Grand Lodge having revisd ans approvd them, order em to be printed in the Book of Constitutions on 25 March 1722», en 39 articles traitant de lorganisation interne de lordre (pages 152-176), suivis de «New regulations» jusquen 1736 (pages 176-178).- «The Constitutions of the Committee of Masons charity first proposed at the Grand Lodge on 21 Nov. 1724» (pages 178-184).- «A list of the Lodges in and about London and Westminster» (pages 184-190).- «Deputations of several Grand Masters, to Wales, the country of England, and foreign parts» (pages 190-198). « The approbation of this Book of the Constitutions» par les dignitaires de la Grande Loge, datée du «25th January 1737/8 in the vulgar, year of Masonry 1737/8» (page 199). - « The Masters song [] by the author of this book[Anderson]», en 6 couplets (pages 200-201).- « The Wardens song [] by the author of this book [Anderson]» en 2 couplets (page 202).- « The Fellow-craft song, by Brother Charles De La Fay Esq » en 6 couplets (pages 203-204). - « The Enterd Prentices song, by Brother Mr. Matthew Birkhead » en 7 couplets (page 204-206).- «The Deputy Grand Masters song», en 7 couplets (pages 206-207).- «The Grand Wardens song, by Brother Oates», en 4 couplets (pages 207-208).- «The Treasurers song» en 4 couplets (page 209).- «The Secretarys song» en 4 couplets (page 210).- «The Sword-bearers song» en 4 couplets (pages 211-212).- «An ode to the Free Masons» en 2 couplets (page 212).- «An ode an Masonry, by Brother J. Bancks» en 12 couplets (pages 213-215).- «A defence of Masonry, publishd A. D. 1730, occasiond by a pamphlet calld Masonry dissected» (pages 216-226). - «Brother Euclids letter to the author against unjust cavils» (pages 226-228).- liste des Frères et des Loges qui ont «encouragé» lauteur (pages 229-230).- «Corrigenda» (page 1 sans no).- Catalogue des libraires Caesar Ward et Richard Chandler (page 2 sans no).‎

‎RARE SECONDE EDITION des Constitutions dAnderson. Ce texte fondateur de la maçonnerie spéculative moderne fut rédigé en 1721-1722 par James Anderson (ca 1678-1739) - peut-être avec le concours de John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683-1744), mais la chose est aujourdhui contestée - à linitiative de John, 2eme duc de Montagu (1690-1749), grand-maître de la Grande Loge de Londres et de Westminster, afin de réguler des pratiques traditionnelles mais mal fixées. Si les Constitutions de 1723 ont été rédigées à lexpresse demande du groupement des loges créé en 1717, les Constitutions de 1738 relèvent dune initiative propre dAnderson, qui prit de grandes libertés doctrinales par rapport au texte primitif; de ce fait cette version ne fut jamais été reconnue comme officielle par la Grande Loge de Londres et de Westminster «et il a fallu plusieurs mises en vente avec de nouvelles pages de titre et frontispices pour en achever de vendre le stock» (Philippe Langlet: Les Constitutions de 1723 et leurs traductions en français). Langue‎

‎Astronomiae instauratae Mechanica. - [ILLUMINATED AND COLOURED GIFT-COPY, FROM HIS CHILDHOOD HOME, OF BRAHE’S SEMINAL INSTRUMENT BOOK]‎

‎Wandesburg (i.e. Wandsbeck, for the author by Philip Ohrs), 1598. Small folio. In the original blue silk binding with richly gilt ornamentation to boards. Professionally recased in the 1970'es with 90% of the original silk boards preserved over new blue silk. Green silk ties. A small, neat restoration to the border of the title-page, barely noticeable. A4 and H2 restored and at margins with newer paper margins in perceftly matching paper. The restoration touches the outer borders, most significantly on H2, where the inner border is almost covered by the new paper. The lower blank border of A4 cropped. Otherwise in splendid condition. 42 ff. With 22 magnificent full-page illustrations, of which 4 are engraved and the rest are woodcut. Title printed in red and black and all pages, including the title-page, printed within woodcut ornamental border. Large woodcut device to title-page, with spere and compass, and allegorical woodcut to colophon. Title-page (which is printed in red and black) is uncoloured, but all other leaves are in magnificent contemporary handcolouring, and many of the illutstrations are illuminated in gold. All woodcut borders couloured in green and greeninsh blue, and large initials, head-and tail-pieces and devise on colophon are coloured in various colours, as are all illustrations.The word ""INGENIOSE"" of the imperfectly printed headline on G3 supplied on manuscript (as in most known copies), presumably in Brahe's own hand.‎

‎Exceedingly scarce first edition, hand-coloured gift-copy in the original gift-binding with a remarkable provenance, of Tycho Brahe’s monumental work, in which he depicts and describes his groundbreaking astronomical instruments as well as his observatory on Hven, gives an account of his contributions to astronomy, and showcases the beginning new astronomy and the invention of modern empirical science.One of presumably 60 copies printed, all produced for private distribution only, as the entire print run of the first printing were meant as presentation-copies, and one of ab. 40 copies known. Almost all surviving copies are ininstitutions. Lauritz Nielsen traced 42 copies, four of which were destroyed by war, and Norlind added a further five copies, plus ab. 9 copies mentioned in contemporary correspondence to have been sent by Brahe toluminaries of the period.This magnum opus of astronomy describes and depicts the astronomical inventions of Tycho Brahe, especially the instruments, through which the stars and planets could be observed and by which distances and ascensionscould be measured. Brahe had invented three types of instruments of monumental importance to the beginning of modern empirical science and crucial to the new astronomy that he invented. He describes three types of these instruments: 1.quadrants and sextants used for determining altitudes and azimuths" 2. armillary instruments for measuring right ascensions and declinations, or longitudes and latitudes with respect to the ecliptic and 3. instrumentsdesigned for the determination of angular distances between celestial bodies (sextants and the bipartite arc). “The instruments of Tycho Brahe represent a major achievement in astronomical science, because they provided much more accurate readings than previously possible, and on the basis of Tycho Brahe's observations Keplerdetermined the laws of planetary motions and from these laws Newton discovered the law of gravity. Not until the invention of the telescope some years after Tycho Brahe's death was it possible to get more accuratereadings.” (From the Brahe exhibition at the Royal Library of Denmark).“Tycho Brahe’s instruments were at the heart of his contribution to the invention of modern empirical science.” (J.R. Christianson: Tycho Brahe’s Instruments).The instruments were built by Tycho Brahe and his staff between the 1570's and the time he left Hven. All of his instruments are now lost, and the primary source we have to the fountain of knowledge that they represent is the present work containing his own illustrations and descriptions of them.After his death, the instruments were kept in a cellar, where they were destroyed during the uprisings in Prague in 1619. The great globe ended up at the Round Tower in Copenhagen, where it was destroyed in the fire of1728. The building, including the observatories, on Hven are also destroyed and only few remains are left. A replica of the garden of Uraniborg and the foundations for the instruments at Stjerneborg has been created innewer times.The present copy has a remarkable provenance, as it comes from Brahe’s childhood home, Tosterup Castle, where he lived since the age of one, with his uncle and aunt, who had “adopted” him and were the only parentshe was to know. The book has been at Tosterup for almost four centuries and has only changed hands once before now. The copy bears no markings of ownership, but was presumably sent by Brahe from Wandsbeck to his family at Tosterup Castle in Denmark right after printing. It remained there until ab. 50 years ago, when it was giftedaway by the owners of Tosterup.Tycho Brahe’s birth parents, Beate Bille and Otto Brahe had been married for two years and already had a daughter, when they had Tycho. One year after his birth, in 1547, they had a second son. “Now, Otto and Beatehad two healthy sons, and “it happened by a particular decree of Fate” that Tycho was taken away “without the knowledge of my parents” by “my beloved paternal uncle Jørgen Brahe, who… brought me up, and thereafter hesupported me generously during my lifetime until my eighteenth year, and he always treated me as his own son… For his own marriage was childless.” Jørgen Brahe of Tosterup was married to “the noble and wise MistressInger Oxe, a sister of the great Peder Oxe, who later became [Steward of the Realm] of the Danish royal court [and who] as long as she lived regarded me with exceptional love, as if I were her own son”.” (J.R.Christianson: Tycho Brahe and the Measure of the Heavens, pp. 13-14).“Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) was a Danish astronomer who built the best observatory in Europe and set a new standard for accurate celestial observations in the era before the invention of the telescope. Tycho had theadvantage of being born into one of the most important noble families of Denmark. Raised by his uncle, Tycho managed to avoid the usual custom of becoming a courtier or armed knight, ending up in the service of theKing.” (Smithsonian)At Tosterup, with his aunt and uncle, Brahe received his basic learning and early on began showing his extraordinary skills. At the age of 12, his uncle sent him to the University of Copenhagen, where he was able tocontinue his studies. It was here that he became interested in astronomy and became determined that this was the only thing for him. His uncle wanted him to study law, as would be beneficial and fitting for someone of hisstatus and upbringing, but Brahe found his own way around this and kept nurturing his passion while formally studying law in Leipzig, where he went after Copenhagen.Already in the early 1560’ies, during his own private parallel studies, he discovered mistakes in the calculated planet tables that were used by all leading astronomers at the time and realized that in order to get correctresults and make reliable predictions, calculations would need to be made from more accurate measurements. This is what sparked his urge to invent new instruments for observations and what sparked the beginning of new,accurate astronomy.After Leipzig, Brahe travelled to Wittenberg and Rostock (where he lost his nose during a duel) and then returned to Denmark, where in 1568 he was granted a canonry at Roskilde Domkirke. Having secured his futureeconomy, he could travel abroad again, this time to Augsburg. In Augsburg, he spent a couple of years with the astronomical brothers Hainzel, and it was here that he designed his first instrument. His famous quadrant was so large, so heavy and so clumsy that it took 20 men to operate it, and it was extremely difficult to transport. All of his later instruments would be smaller. It was also in Augsburg that Brahe began working on his great celestial globe, which he finished on Hven.From 1571, Brahe stayed in Denmark and taught at the University of Copenhagen. It is during this time, in 1572, that he discovers “the new star”. After having made this seminal observation, he was once againconfirmed in the knowledge that new exact instruments were needed to measure and understand the heavens he used a newly constructed sextant to calculate the distance from the new phenomenon to the fixed stars of closer proximity and was thus able to prove that this “new star” was farther removed from the earth than the moon and was amongst the heavenly bodies in the sphere farther away than the planets - a discovery that turned the traditional world picture upside down.Brahe had planned to move to Basel, but when King Frederik II, impressed with his astronomical advances, offered him a small island, Hven, and money to build whatever he needed to continue his observations andcalculations, Brahe’s dreams had come true and he decided to stay in Denmark. On Hven, a little island in the north of Øresund, across from the king’s new castle, Kronborg, in Helsinore, Brahe began building a castlealong with an observatory – arguably the most famous observatory in the history of astronomy. On August 1576, the first stone for Uraniborg is laid and a new chapter in astronomy begins.Uraniborg comes to be the centre of something bigger than Brahe himself. It is the centre of astronomical observations in Europe, but it is also the centre of a new form of learning and dissemination of knowledge.Brahe opens up his home and his observatory to the learned world and students and astronomers flock to his island to partake in the marvels that take place here. He created an extraordinary environment of leaning thatwas the first such centre in the modern world. “This was far different from university studies. European universities did not have observatories or research laboratories, and universities north of the Alps did not have aviaries or museums, although a few had begun tolay out botanical gardens. Uraniborg had all of these facilities, plusan unprecedented array of astronomical instruments. In Tycho’s learned spaces, hand-on techniques and problem-solving took precedence overtheoretical academic learning. Students worked with Tycho and collaborative experimenters like Flemløse, Morsing, Croll and Steenwinckeland learned how to produce and verify new knowledge. This lively, innovativehousehold laid down models for the rest of their lives and became the prototype of future scientific academies real or imagined.” (Christianson p. 131).During the 21 years that Brahe spends on Hven, a remarkable life emerges on this island, and extraordinary knowledge is created. Together with a large number of assistants and students, Brahe constantly observes theheavens and in order to get satisfying results, he builds a number of new and groundbreaking instruments that revolutionize astronomy and basically founds modern empirical science.“Tycho brought in five or six master artisans with various skills to build Uraniborg’s instruments. His instrument factory came to have a horse-powered trip hammer, iron and steel smithy, brass foundry, engraving and gildingshop, cabinetmaker’s shop and instrument-maker’s shop.” (Christianson p. 95).In the beginning, the instruments were placed in Uraniborg, but the balconies of wood were not secure enough, so in 1584, Brahe began building an underground observatory, Stjerneborg, where different instruments wereplaced in five circular crypts.It is all of this, the splendor of observatories, instruments, and observations that came to change modern science for good, that Brahe documents in his seminal “Astronomiae Instauartae Mechanica”.Brahe was well aware of the importance of his observations, and he wanted to share his discoveries with the world. But he was also aware of the possibilities of results being stolen by others and wanted to be in full controlof the publishing process. He also wanted to make sure that his books were printed with the splendor and accuracy that he intended. Thus, in 1584, he created his own printing press that was placed in one of the cornerbuildings of Uraniborg. “As historian Sachiko Kusukawa points out, “it was very rare for an author to be in full control of the production of both images and text”, but Tycho had the will and the means to achieve suchcontrol” (Christainson p. 121). He soon discovered that it was difficult to get enough paper for his books, and in 1590, he started building a paper mill, on which he produced his on paper. When he left Denmark, he broughtwith not only his instruments, but also his paper and his printing press.The success of Uraniborg was not recognized by all, and after King Frederik II had died, Brahe had lost his great patron and his endless supply of means. In the beginning, the relationship with the new king, Christian IV,was not bad, and the young crown prince had also visited Hven in 1592. The relationship soured, however, for a number of reasons, and eventually Brahe saw no other way forward than to leave his beloved island. Thebuildings he could not take with him, but he did bring almost everything else of significance.Thus, in early spring 1597, Tycho Brahe left Denmark and Hven, never to return again. After the death of Frederic II, his opponents at court had succeeded in turning the young king Christian IV against him, and without the financial support of the king, he could not afford to stay at Hven. Brahe had to find a new patron. He would eventually find this in Emperor Rudolph II in Prague. Before he left the country, he stayed in Copenhagen for a couple of months, and from there he traveled over Rostock to the castle Wandsbeck close to Hamburg. Here, he stayed as the guest of Henrik Rantzau, until his further plans had fallen into place. As mentioned above,on his departure from Denmark, he brought with him most of his instruments as well as his printing press, which is witnessed among other places in a letter he writes to Anders Sørensen Vedel in 1599 here, he recounts hisdeparture from both Hven and Copenhagen and explicitly states what he brought with him.Brahe stayed in Wandsbeck for an entire year. As soon as he had settled in, he resumed his observations and his literary work, and already in 1598, he was ready to publish a book that was printed in Wandsbeck. He had longprepared a publication of a collected, illustrated description of his instruments and further anatomical devices, and this seemed like the perfect time to get it out. It would be of the utmost importance to finding and introducing himself to a new patron. More than anything, this magnificent publication bore witness to his achievements, his extraordinary skills, his astronomical brilliancy and his many new inventions.Brahe had actually finished several of the woodcuts on Uraniborg on Hven, and the rest he finished and printed in Wandsbeck. Four of the new illustrations were from engraved plates of the highest quality, whereas the restwere woodcut, also of remarkable quality. The paper is wonderfully heavy and is presumably produced by Brahehimself on his paper mill on Hven.“Tycho was ready to move on. He decided to publish a description of his instruments and facilities on Hven with an autobiography and an agenda for future achievements under a great monarch, perhaps an emperor, willing tosupport such unprecedented marvels. He set up his printing press at Wandsburg and brought in a Hamburg printer named Philip von Ohr, together with copperplate engravers, calligraphers, manuscript illuminators,bookbinders and others to produce fine books and manuscripts. The book was entitled “Astronomiae instauratae mechanica” (Instruments for the Instauration of Astronomy).” (Christianson, p. 185).Brahe had not yet quite given up hope of returning to Denmark, to Hven and his beloved observatories, and several people tried to intervene and get King Christian IV to change his mind so that the great astronomercould return.“Around the time it [i.e. “Astronomiae instauratae mechanica”] went to press, King Christian IV arrived in the Duchy of Schleswig. An outbreak of plague had moved his wedding to Princess Anna Catherine of Brandenburgto Haderslevhus Castle, where it took place in November. After the wedding, Rantzau arranged for Tycho to meet the bride’s parents. They received him warmly, agreed to write to Queen Anna Catherine and King Christian IVon his behalf, and sent Johannes Müller to study with him until the summer of 1598, but their letters to King Christian had no effect.…By August 1598, however, he “no longer cared”. Having failed to penetrate the shield of enemies around King Christian IV, he turned to other courts and especially to that of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II in Prague.…In June 1598 Tycho sent Tengnagel to present Prince Maurice of Orange and Elector Ernest with sumptuously illuminated and autographed copies of his latest works. The Elector was astonished to learn that Tycho had leftDenmark. Tycho was renewing astronomy for the first time in more than a thousand years. How could King Christian IV allow this to happen? He asked how much Tycho Brahe cost the Danish crown… “What?” eruptedthe Elector. ”Should such a man leave the country for so little money? What a disgrace! A lord gambles away more in an evening. Gold one can always get, but not always such people.” He said he would recommend TychoBrahe to Emperor Rudolf II and wanted to meet him personally… [He] immediately wrote to urge Rudolf II to take Tycho Brahe into his service, which the emperor was eager to do.”Astronomiae instauratae mechanica” was dedicated to Emperor Rudolf II. It contained 22 woodcuts and engravings of Tycho’s instruments, a new engraving of Uraniborg, and woodcuts of Hven, Stjerneborg andTycho’s “imprese”. Tycho’s innovative methods for collecting and verifying observational data were laid out in detailed descriptions of instruments.” (Christianson, pp. 185-88).Tycho presented Rudolf II with a copy of his “Astronomiae instauratae mechanica”. “the book described each of his instruments in turn, its size and material, advantages, shortcomings and verified standard of deviation,concluding with the Great Celestial Globe that described precise positions of 1,000 stars. He described Hven, Uraniborg and Stjerneborg. All in all, this book illustrated how Tycho Brahe had transformed astronomy from anacademic exercise into a courtly public endeavor.” (Christianson, pp. 194-95).Brunet I, 1200.Kayser & Dehn, Bibliographie der Hamburger Drucke 88.Laurits Nielsen, Dansk Bibliografi 432.Houzeau & Lancaster 2703.Rosenkilde and Balhausen, Thesaurus Li‎