Record

StorageSiteUCL Special Collections
LevelItem
Reference Number MS GRAVES/1
TitleDe Varignon's Treatise on Gnomonics
Date18th century
DescriptionManuscript volume, 18th century, containing De Varignon's 'Trait de Gnomonique', a treatise on gnomonics (the art of making sundials), including 35 leaves of diagrams.
Extent1 volume containing 117 leaves
AdminHistoryThe author of the original text was presumably Pierre Varignon (1654-1722), the French mathematician, who was educated in Caen, became a priest, and devoted himself to mathematical science, becoming professor of mathematics at the Collge Mazarin, Paris, in 1688, and in 1704, in addition, professor at the College Royal. His subjects of study included mechanics, the application of differential calculus, and water clocks, and he published various works. He was elected to the Acadmie Royal des Sciences in 1688, the Berlin Academy in 1713, and the Royal Society in 1718.
CustodialHistoryThe manuscript bears on folio 2r the name de Campagne and, on folio 2*r, C Fournerat. It formed part of the library of John Thomas Graves (1806-1870), mathematician and Professor of Jurisprudence at University College London, whose collection included manuscripts dating from the 15th to the 19th century, relating mainly to mathematics. Formerly Graves 162. Other pressmarks: 4.c.5; 50.g.4.
AcquisitionGraves' library was bequeathed to University College London in 1870.
AccessStatusOpen
AccessConditionsFold-out pages of diagrams - good condition but handle with care.
FindingAidsDorothy K Coveney, 'A Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of University College London' (London, 1935); handlist at University College London Special Collections.
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