TORRICELLI Evangelista Lezioni accademiche.

Riccardi, II, 554; Cinti, 169; Dibner, 149; D.S.B., XIII, pp.437-438; Roberts & Trent, Bibliotheca Mechanica, p. 322; Mark Andrews, Italian Hydraulics, p. 133.

First edition.

Galileo’s most promising pupil succeeded him as professor of mathematics at Florence.

“This collection of Torricelli’s lectures provides an important summary of his theories, published posthumously by Tommaso Bonaventura; includes chapters on percussion, lightness, winds, military architecture and mathematics. Chapter 7 on the movement of winds is a pioneer contribution in the field of meteorology explaining in detail their origin in atmospheric changes and refuting the contemporary theory that they issued from the earth. His two famous letters on the barometer are reprinted here… The preface by Bonaventura includes a life of Torricelli” (Roberts & Trent).

“Le lezioni II, III e IV che trattano della forza della percossa, problema tanto caro al Galilei, del quale forse rispecchiano gli ultimi pensieri” (Cinti).

“In the preface, Buonaventuri provides a biography of Torricelli and shows important correspondence with Michelangelo Ricci, in which Torricelli establishes the principle of barometric pressure” (Andrews).

Illustrated with an engraved portrait and woodcut illustrations in the text.

A good copy in a modern binding.