The Curious Frau

Mathematics & Astronomy

Links to pre-1600 manuscripts on the topics of mathematics and astronomy

Hartmann, Georg: [Collectio figurarum], Eine reiche Sammlung von Kupferstichen u. Holzschnitten, welche Sonnenuhren u. andere astronomische Instrumente darstellen, S.l. [16. Jh.]

Collection of Figures: A rich collection of copper engravings and woodcuts, which describes sundials and other astronomical instruments .

Diagrams for an astrolabe and the table to use it

Start of the sections for an astrological globe It was designed so that you could cut them out of the paper and paste it onto a globe of the right size.

Ries, Adam: Rechnung auff der Linien und Federn Auff allerley Handthierung, Magdeburgk [1579] [VD16 R 2404]

A mathematics book, teaching number theory I think. It was designed as a workbook, so there will be a lesson and then pages for the student to write one. Many of the pages have notes and figures written in ink on them.

Albert, Johann: Rechenbüchlein, auff der Feder und Linien ..., Magdeburgk 1585 [VD16 A 1282]
More mathematics, and drawings of what looks to be an abacus? 

Koebel, Jacob: Das new Reche[n]püchlein Wie mann vff den Linien mit Reche[n]pfennige[n] ... leichtlich reche[n] lerne[n] mage, Oppenheim 1518 [VD16 K 1647]

Mathematics and Roman numerals textbook. People had to learn them back them too. This book also has nice printed decorations and capital letters.

It also has a nice page on money abbreviations and the word equivalent

Kalender mit Underrichtung Astronomischer wirkungen, Franckfort am Meyn 1547 [VD16 R 2868]
A calendar for working astrology for 1547. It also has nice little woodcuts of people at work.

Regiomontanus, Johannes: Kalender, Straßburg 1532 [VD16 M 6542]
Astrological calendar for 1533.

Münster, Sebastian: Compositio horologiorum, in plano, muro, truncis, anulo, concavo, cylindro & variis quadrantibus, cum signorum zodiaci & diversarum horarum inscriptionibus, Basileae 1531 [VD16 M 6651]

Abu-Ma°sar Ga°far Ibn-Muhammad / Johannes : Flores Albumasaris, Augsburg 1488.11.18. [BSB-Ink A-227 - GW 837]
For those of you interested in astrology and astronomy, a period text on the subject, with really nice line drawings of the signs and planets.

Schreiber, Heinrich (Mathematiker): Ein new künstlich ... Rechenbüchlin, Erffurdt 1523 [VD16 S 4142]

Times table, circa 1523
Measuring stick or 5's table?
Explaining how to convert fractions to the same base number to be able to subract and add.