FOUNDING THE GENRE "RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS"

OZANAM, (JACQUES).

Recreations Mathematiques et Physiques, qui contiennent plusieurs Problêmes d'Arithmetique, de Geometrie, d'Optique, de Gnomonique, de Cosmographie, de Mechanique, de Pyrotechnique, & de Physique. Avec un Traité nouveau des Horloges Elementaires. 2 Vols. (Incl. Supplement:) Traite des Horloges elementaires. Ou de la maniere de faire des Horloges avec L'Eau, la Terre, L'Air, & le feu.

Paris, Jean Jombert, 1694.

8vo. 2 contemp. full calf. Raised bands. Richly gilt spines with gilt lettering. Light wear to spine top of spines. 2 very small nicks to lower compartment of volume 2. Small crack to one hinge on volume 2, but in no way loosening. (32),400;(16),303,(1) pp. + "Horloges" separately paginated (8),163,(5) pp. With in all 84 engraved plates, some with many figs. Internally clean and fine.

Scarce first edition and the first work of its kind, "Recreational Mathematics".

Qzanam's "contributions consisted of popular treatises and reference works on "useful and practical mathematics," and an extremely popular work on mathematical recreations; the latter had by far the more lasting impact. Ozanam’s Récréations may be regarded as the forerunner of modern books on mathematical recreations. He drew heavily on the works of Bachet de Méziriac, Mydorge, Leurechon, and Daniel Schwenter; his own contributions were somewhat less significant, for he was not a particularly creative mathematician. The work was later augmented and revised by Montucla and, still later, was translated into English by Hutton (1803)."(DSB).

Order-nr.: 46773