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The artful early instruments of Peter Apianus : Ein kunstlich Instrument of 1524, its precursors and its successors

Gislén, Lars LU and Evans, James (2024) In Journal for the History of Astronomy 55(2). p.207-278
Abstract
In 1524, Petrus Apianus published two closely related works—one the Latin Cosmographicus liber, aimed at an educated audience of international readers, and the other, Ein kunstlich Instrument, a shorter, more practical book for those who could read German but had no Latin. Both books nevertheless make use of most of the same instruments, including Apianus’ early volvelles. Most of these instruments also reappear in subsequent editions of Cosmographicus liber (or Cosmographia, a frequent alternative title). While the Cosmographicus liber has received much scholarly attention, Ein kunstlich Instrument has received very little. In this paper we (1) set the instruments of Ein kunstlich Instrument in the context of Apianus’ earlier work,... (More)
In 1524, Petrus Apianus published two closely related works—one the Latin Cosmographicus liber, aimed at an educated audience of international readers, and the other, Ein kunstlich Instrument, a shorter, more practical book for those who could read German but had no Latin. Both books nevertheless make use of most of the same instruments, including Apianus’ early volvelles. Most of these instruments also reappear in subsequent editions of Cosmographicus liber (or Cosmographia, a frequent alternative title). While the Cosmographicus liber has received much scholarly attention, Ein kunstlich Instrument has received very little. In this paper we (1) set the instruments of Ein kunstlich Instrument in the context of Apianus’ earlier work, especially his lost Mappa mundi and the extant booklets (Declaratio and Isagoge) that explained it, (2) compare the German- and Latin-language books of 1524, (3) explain in detail those instruments that have not heretofore been adequately discussed, and (4) explore their later history. We also make available, in the on-line edition of the Journal, working virtual copies of Apianus’ instruments from Ein kunstlich Instrument. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal for the History of Astronomy
volume
55
issue
2
pages
71 pages
publisher
Science History Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85193048757
ISSN
0021-8286
DOI
10.1177/00218286241241070
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8e2c252d-0177-4b10-86c3-8506d6d0280f
date added to LUP
2024-05-11 10:37:29
date last changed
2024-05-20 04:00:32
@article{8e2c252d-0177-4b10-86c3-8506d6d0280f,
  abstract     = {{In 1524, Petrus Apianus published two closely related works—one the Latin Cosmographicus liber, aimed at an educated audience of international readers, and the other, Ein kunstlich Instrument, a shorter, more practical book for those who could read German but had no Latin. Both books nevertheless make use of most of the same instruments, including Apianus’ early volvelles. Most of these instruments also reappear in subsequent editions of Cosmographicus liber (or Cosmographia, a frequent alternative title). While the Cosmographicus liber has received much scholarly attention, Ein kunstlich Instrument has received very little. In this paper we (1) set the instruments of Ein kunstlich Instrument in the context of Apianus’ earlier work, especially his lost Mappa mundi and the extant booklets (Declaratio and Isagoge) that explained it, (2) compare the German- and Latin-language books of 1524, (3) explain in detail those instruments that have not heretofore been adequately discussed, and (4) explore their later history. We also make available, in the on-line edition of the Journal, working virtual copies of Apianus’ instruments from Ein kunstlich Instrument.}},
  author       = {{Gislén, Lars and Evans, James}},
  issn         = {{0021-8286}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{207--278}},
  publisher    = {{Science History Publications}},
  series       = {{Journal for the History of Astronomy}},
  title        = {{The artful early instruments of Peter Apianus : <i>Ein kunstlich Instrument</i> of 1524, its precursors and its successors}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00218286241241070}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/00218286241241070}},
  volume       = {{55}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}