The use of the celestial globe in plano, set foorth in two hemispheres : wherein are placed all the most notable starres of heaven according to their longitude, latitude, magnitude, and constellation . . . Moreover, in this booke is set downe the declination of the Starres which have any particular name, with their right ascension, and the degree of any signe wherewith they come to the meridian, & the time of the yeare wherein they may be seene there. AN EARLY ENGLISH COPERNICAN DISCUSSES THE NOVA OF 1572

HOOD, Thomas

Published by London: [By John VVindet] for Tobie Cooke, 1590

About this Item

First edition, very rare, with only 4 other copies auctioned in the last 80 years. "Thomas Hood (1556-1620) was the son of a merchant taylor who developed an interest in mathematics and astronomy. Hood attended Cambridge University and was a Fellow of Trinity College. He then moved to London, where he actively lectured in the 1580s and 1590s, giving popular talks on mathematics, astronomy, geography, hydrography, and navigation. Some of his lectures were published, including two books on the use of terrestrial and celestial globes in 1590 and 1592. He was a follower of Copernicus, and his lectures helped to popularize Copernican theory in England. In 1590 Hood wrote a book entitled 'The Use of the Celestial Globes in Plano . . .' The text is in the form of a dialogue between a master and a student, and it was aimed at helping the reader recognize the stars and their constellations. It included a description of the great circles in the sky, ways to locate a star in celestial latitude and longitude, an alphabetical list of the most notable stars and their positions, and a survey of the constellations and their history and mythology. There was an interesting discussion of the nova of 1572, whose appearance in Cassiopeia provided support for the Copernican system over the Ptolemaic system. Hood countered some of the explanations proposed by traditionalists of the latter system, such as the nova being a new comet or a star that had been previously hidden from view by an 'exhalation' in the sky. The origin of the Milky Way also is discussed, with a refutation of some of the theories of Aristotle (i.e., that it was formed by a meteor that ignited the air or by vapors from the Earth). Hood also described ways of classifying the stars (e.g., according to their magnitudes, color, form, and twinkling)" (Kanas, Star Maps (2012), pp. 146-8). The nova of 1572 was famously observed by Tycho Brahe who published his account in 1575. The title page announced that one could also buy from Mr Hood at his house in Abchurch Lane two hemispheres to use with the present text. They illustrated the stars and constellations by human and animal figures. These were, however, very rarely united with the book. There is a set of the hemispheres in the British Museum (the only copy listed on STC), the text (without the plates) being in the British Library. Provenance: 'William Rose his book 1735' on front pastedown, 'Moses Roses book' on A4v, 'Moses Rose his book November 20 1797' on E1r, ms. account notes on title verso and fly leaves. Small 4to, ff. [iv], 43, Roman and Black letter, woodcut printer's device on title, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces (title page soiled and slightly frayed at fore-edge, old inscription on verso showing through to recto, damp stain in upper outer corner, a few thumb marks and oil splashes). Contemporary limp vellum (soiled and creased). ESTC 118875; Hind I, p. 139; Houzeau & Lancaster 2785; Taylor, 'Late Stuart and Early Tudor Geography', p. 346; not in Honeyman. A good, unpressed copy in original state. Sixteenth-century English scientific books are rarely found in untouched contemporary bindings. Seller Inventory # ABE-1702768555211

Bibliographic Details

Title: The use of the celestial globe in plano, set...

Publisher: London: [By John VVindet] for Tobie Cooke

Publication Date: 1590

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: Good

Edition: 1st Edition