DE FALCO, Riccardus. In Universam Naturae Philosphiam Proemium
Manuscript on paper, [Italy, c.1650]
£ 6,000
185x130mm, 197 leaves plus 2 endleaves at front and a blank in middle (389pp. & 5pp.); apparently complete, in Latin, contemporary pagination, single column of 25-28 lines in a loose Italian italic hand, titles in larger capitals, one large penwork initial on frontispiece; 12 small penwork illustrations of scientific instruments and 3 large diagrams representing cosmological models (Ptolemaic, Copernican and Tychonian systems of the universe); index at the end of volume, ex libris of Riccardus de Falco at end of manuscript; a little worming, spots and bumps to edges of leaves; limp parchment binding, worn at edges, minimal loss to spine, some scuffs and holes, coming loose from volume; an unsophisticated manuscript in overall good condition.
A comprehensive workbook handwritten by Riccardus de Falco, possibly a student of philosophy in the 17th century. The first section discusses the philosophies of Plato, Pythagoras, Epicurus, and Aristotle. A larger section is dedicated to Cartesian physics, Neoplatonism, Alchemy, Atomism and Corpuscularianism, and motion. The last section is dedicated to cosmology and the elementary principles governing the universe.
This manuscript presents a fascinating insight on the development of the sciences from their origins in Ancient Greek Philosophy, all the way through to the groundbreaking studies of Torricelli, Copernicus and Descartes, philosophers near contemporaries of this student.