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Mathematical Treasure: Koebel's Book on the Astrolabe

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

The German mathematician Jacob Köbel (born circa 1460-65, died 1533) studied both law and mathematics and was a man of many trades, including author, printer, publisher, surveyor, and city official. In 1532, Astrolabii declaratio, his book on the use of the astrolabe, was published. This book was translated from Latin to German, and published as Vonn gerechter Zübereytung, Verstand, Gebrauch und nutz des Astrolabiums und Quadrantenn … (attributed to Jacobum Köbeln), of which the title page is shown below.

Mathematical Treasure: Koebel's 1532 Book on the Astrolabe

References:
  1. Köbel (or Koebel or Kobel or Kobilin or Kiblin or Caballinus), Jacob. Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, via Encyclopedia.com (June 16, 2017).
  2. WorldCat.
  3. ETH-Zürich e-rara Catalog entry.

These images were obtained through the courtesy of ETH-Bibliothek Zürich. The book may be viewed in its entirety at e-rara: http://dx.doi.org/10.3931/e-rara-1430

Index to Mathematical Treasures   

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Koebel's Book on the Astrolabe," Convergence (March 2018)