Lot 230: MARS -- CASSINI, Giovanni Domenico (1625-1712). De Periodo quotidianae revolutionis Martis . Bologna: by H.H. de Ducius, 1666. [With:] -- De aliis Romanis observationibus macularum Martis . Bologna: by H.H. de Ducius, 1666. [And:] -- Tabulae

MARS -- CASSINI, Giovanni Domenico (1625-1712). De Periodo quotidianae revolutionis Martis. Bologna: by H.H. de Ducius, 1666. [With:] -- De aliis Romanis observationibus macularum Martis. Bologna: by H.H. de Ducius, 1666. [And:] -- Tabulae Quotidianae Revolutionis Macularum Iovis. Rome: by Fabio de Falco, 1665. 3 works, each a single sheet folded once (305 x 220mm). The second item with an engraved plate of telescopic observations and two small printed correction slips tipped on. (The first two items with early, shallow folding creases perhaps for mailing, the first item with a repair in the bottom margin, some spotting, some browning). Disbound.
THREE RARE PAMPHLETS BY CASSINI on the rate of rotation of Mars and Jupiter, including his 'importantissimi opus' (Riccardi) announcing the length of the Martian day. Cassini focused his telescope on the macula, or dark spots of Mars to determine the position of the planet's polar cap and period of rotation. RARE: ABPC records no copies at auction in over 35 years. WorldCat apparently locates just one copy of De Periodo at the Bibliotheque nationale de France; and apparently no copy of De aliis Romanis. Riccardi I, 277-8. With another: an incomplete copy of Martis circa axem proprium revolubilis observationes Bononiae (Bologna: 1666). (4)