AFONSO X. [TABULAE Astronomicae]. Venice. 1483.

AFONSO X. [TABULAE Astronomicae]. Venice. 1483.
AFONSO X
[TABULAE Astronomicae]. Alfontii regis castelle illustrissimi celestiu[m] motuu[m] tabule: nec no stella fixaru[m] lo[n]gitudines ac latitudines alfontii tpe ad motus veritate[m] mira dilige[n]tia reducte. At pmo Ioannis saxonie[n]sis in tabulas alfontii canões ordinati incipiu[n]t faustissime. Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, 1483.

a7[de 8], b-l8, m6; 93 ff.; 205 mm. Bound without the first blank page (a1); full modern vellum; three heraldic stamps on folio a2; foxing.

FIRST EDITION, VERY RARE of the famous Alfonsine Tables, in honor of Afonso X, the Wise, who commissioned them. Although the Latin translation, printed here for the first time, contains new observations, made from 1262 and 1272, it follows the general format of al-Zarqali's compilation. These tables aimed to calculate the position of the Sun, Moon and planets according to the Ptolemaic system. Based on the work of al-Zarqali (or Azarquel), an 11th-century astronomer from Córdoba, their revision was based on observations made by Judah ben Moses, a physician and astronomer, and Isaac ibn Sid, a Spanish astronomer with an interest in instruments, about 1272. No original copy of these tables is known, but they were translated at the beginning of the 14th century and maintained an enormous influence in Europe during the following centuries. Very rare, important and valuable.

¶ Palau, 7077; Hain, 868