Novae coelestium orbium theoricae congruentes cum observationibus N. Copernici. Auctore Io. Antonio Magino [...]

4to (228x173 mm). [14], 115 leaves. Collation: a-b4 c6 A-Ff4. Lacking the final blank. Engraved title page bearing at the bottom the printer's device. With several diagrams and woodcut illustrations of planetary orbits in the text. Roman and italic type. Woodcut historiared initials and decorative headpieces. Later boards (worn and soiled). Title page reinforced at gutter, small holes to title page and following leaf slightly affecting the engraving, worm track to the final three leaves with loss of text in the printed marginalia, some foxing and browning.
First edition dedicated by Magini to Giovanni Giacomo Tonialo (from Bologna, 1 December 1588). The work was reprinted in Mainz in 1608.
“Giovanni Antonio Magini of Padua, professor of mathematics at Bologna, in 1589 published New Theories of the Celestial Orbs Agreeing with the Observations of Copernicus. He took the position that Copernicus had so reformed astronomy that no correction of equal motions, or a very slight one, was now required, whereas the Ptolemaic and Alfonsine calculations had been shown unsatisfactory not only by the Copernican arguments but by the daily observations of many persons. For although Copernicus had devised hypotheses which wandered far from verisimilitude, yet they corresponded closely to the phenomena. But either from a desire to display his ingenuity or convinced by his own reasoning, he had revived the opinion of Nicetas, Aristarchus and others as to the movement of the earth and had upset the received constitution of the universe. This made many question his results or at least disapprove of his hypotheses as monstrous. Magini has consequently thought it advisable to cast them aside and to associate others with the observations of Copernicus and the Prutenic tables. He has therefore collated the ideas of Ptolemy and Copernicus, adding new hypotheses of his own where they seemed necessary, and has written an introductory text or theory of the planets along these lines. He asserts that there was a great demand for such a theory of the planets which would abandon the out-moded Alfonsine hypotheses and conform to recent observations without such absurd hypotheses as Copernicus had imagined. He excuses himself for not accompanying his text with commentaries because of his occupation with the revision of his Ephemerides and his new duties in his first year as professor of mathematics at Bologna. He has had to change entirely the theories of the sun and moon but has adhered to the Ptolemaic system for the other five planets, except that he has added some new movements and orbs which seem to have escaped Ptolemy. To avoid difficulties and excessive multiplication of motions and orbs he has retained equants […] Again in the main preface to his work Magini calls Copernicus a most erudite man and outstanding artificer who most ingeniously thought out his hypotheses of the multiple movement of the earth and quiet of the sun and fixed stars in order to avoid a multitude of spheres. But because these hypotheses have been generally rejected, many have unjustly inveighed against so great a man, to whom astronomy owes an eternal debt. Yet hitherto no one has calculated the celestial movements more expeditely and surely than Copernicus […] In the text proper Magini first considers the theory of the motion of the eighth sphere and the three spheres beyond it. He then turns to the three superior planets […] The theory of the moon Magini first sets forth according to Copernicus, and then according to his own hypotheses. He agrees with Copernicus that the Ptolemaic theory of the moon does not conform to our senses and experience. But he thinks that the Copernican theory of a double epicycle would sometimes prevent our seeing the spots on the moon. It takes him 24 pages to set
forth the theory of the moon according to Copernicus and 27 pages to present his own, which employs eccentrics only without epicycles. The work of Magini is profusely illustrated with figu