EUCLIDES. Eukleidou Optika kai Katoptrika. Euclidis Optica & Catoptrica.Paris, Andreas Wechel, 1557
Small 4to, mm. 180x140; Full later vellum binding made by using an ancient one with laces, gilded edges; pp. [20], 48; pp. [4], 64, Greek and Latin text. Printer’s device on the two titlepages, a lot of geometric ilustrations within the text. Nice copy.

Editio princeps of the greek text of the two works. Honeyman: “First edition of this version”. The two parts, each with its own title page and pagination autonomous, are preceded by a long introduction by the curator Jean de Pene, which provides the key to understanding these two Euclidean texts. The first is attributed to Euclid with any certainty, while the Catoptrica seems to be the work of a student. In publishing the two texts helped to initiate the next on the optics and reflections on the light propagation theories. The practice of studying the geometry of the vision begins with Euclid, whose work on perspective explains how the apparent size of an object is related to its distance from the eye.Loria: “L'Ottica contiene le prime proposizioni dell'ottica geometrica in base all'ipotesi platoniana che il fenomeno della visione avvenga in causa di raggi emanati dall'occhio, e ad alcuni postulati che oggi si pongono a fondamento della prospettiva. L'altro, intitolato Catoptrica, concerne i fenomeni della riflessione rispetto a specchi piani.” Adams, E-1020; Riccardi, Bibl. Euclidea, 1557.2; Honeyman, n. 1055. Loria, St. delle Matematiche, p. 50.