Institutiones mathematica decem et sex purae mixtaeque matheseos disciplinas complexae

Vitemberg: Georg. Marcum Knochium, 1725. SECOND EDITION. Title in red and black. With 48 leaves of plates. In a contemporary full calf binding dated 1729 in blind on the back cover. Overall in excellent condition, with only minor wear. Second edition, greatly enlarged with over 100 additional text pages and illustrations. This early encyclopaedia of science is Weidler’s most important work, of significant value for its abundance of data and details in each area of science. Among the subjects covered include: arithmetic, geometry, plane trigonometry, optics, perspective, spherical trigonometry, spherical and dynamical astronomy, geography (on the sphere), chronology, dialling, mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, civil and military architecture, fortifications, and mathematical analysis concluding with differential and integral calculus. The work is notable for Weidler’s method of stating, defining, and presenting results, or answers to problems. The format was typical of the Continental approach to education. Thus, because it is one of the best examples of its kind, this book is of great value to today’s scholar.

Weidler (1691-1755) held the chair of mathematics at the University of Wittenberg, was a Fellow of the Royal Society, and wrote many esteemed books on scientific subjects. His most notable was the first general bibliography of astronomy as well as the first complete history of astronomy (see Houzeau & Lancaster, 11 and 86, and Lalande, pp. 414 and 458).