Operations of the Geometric and Military Compass. 1606. Translated, with an introduction by Stillman Drake. Published for the Burndy Library by the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology and the Smithsonian Institution Press

In-4°, pp. 95, brossura editoriale con ritratto di Galileo, ripetuto all'antiporta. Numerose illustrazioni in b.n. n.t., in parte riproducenti quelle dell'edizione originale dell'opera. Perfetto stato. Prima traduzione in lingua inglese (apparsa a distanza di 370 anni dall'editio princeps) della prima opera di Galilei, 'Le operazioni del compasso geometrico et militare' (Padova, Marinelli, 1606). L'opera prima galileiana venne stampata in sole 60 copie. Acclusa una lettera a stampa dell'allora direttore della Burndy Library: 'The enclosed is a copy of the first English translation of Galileo's first publication, printed in his home Padua in 1606 in only 60 copies, It is our Publication No. 32. The original has become so rare that only four copies are recorded in America'. The book describes a mechanical calculator invented by Galileo for artillerymen and surveyors. Dr. Drake (University of Toronto), the translator, indicates that Galileo's Compasso accomplished in his day what today's slide-rule and pocket electronic computer do in ours'.