Jacob

6353 — Two fine folding engraved plates. 9 leaves; 20 pp. one leaf of "Nota." Two parts in one vol. Small 4to modern wrappers. Stuttgart: J.G. Zubrodt 1681 the date is given in an anagram. First edition of this scarce observation of the famous comet of 1680-81; according to WorldCat we find no copy in North America. Apart from its brightness this comet is notable as the first to be observed using a telescope by Gottfried Kirch in Coburg. Other well-known observers included Robert Hooke Flamsteed Newton and John Evelyn. Zimmermann 1642-93 mathematician astronomer millenarian and theologian studied theology at the University of Tübingen and became a Lutheran minister at Bietigheim in Baden. A follower of Jakob Böhme Zimmermann's millenarian views caused him to be removed from his ministry. He attracted like-minded dissenters and in 1693 a group of about 40 people led by Zimmermann left Hamburg for Pennsylvania. Zimmermann died en route in Rotterdam. The remainder of the group established a religious community near the Wissahickon Creek. Zimmermann in his varied life was a professor of mathematics at Heidelberg. He wrote several notable and influential books on comets and was an active observer of the 1680-81 comet noted by Kronk see below on p. 372. Newton mentioned Zimmerman in the first edition of the Principia as an observer of this comet. The first plate depicts the comet's path. The early chapters deal with the comet's movements through the heavens and this is followed by a series of careful computations as to its exact positions at different moments in its progress. Fine copy and scarce. ❧ Kronk Cometography I pp. 369-73. Poggendorff II col. 1411. unknown books