Theatrum instrumentorum et machinarum Iacobi Bessoni Delphinatis ...

Rectangular woodcut headpiece featuring two putti flanking a central floral and scrollwork motif.

THE THEATER OF THE INSTRUMENTS AND MACHINES OF IACOBUS BESSONUS, WITH DECLARATIONS BY FRANCISCUS BEROALDUS, AND ILLUSTRIOUS ADDITIONS HITHERTO UNSEEN,

PROPOSITIONS.

Proposition for the First Figure.

CERTAIN GEOMETRICAL INSTRUMENTS, DISCOVERED BY MECHANICAL REASON, FOR THE MEASUREMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS UPON WHICH, FOR THE MOST PART, THE INVENTIONS FOLLOWING IN THIS BOOK REST.

DECLARATION OF FRANCISCUS BEROALDUS
upon the first Figure.

Decorative drop cap 'H' featuring floral and scrollwork patterns.Here there first occur six instruments to be considered; two of which, facing the East, are the Compass and the Ruler; upon which the entire practice of mathematics depends. The next two are parts of a screw, one male, which we shall call the inner part; the other, which here turns toward the South, is the female, which we shall call the outer part; and the remaining two are Western, by which the screw is made: these are the principal instruments of this entire book, and they provide great utility for the remaining Figures.

Addition.

BUT also this must be observed, that this compass of the Author is so constructed that, when there is need, it provides us with the use of both Measures and Rules and a straight-edge, and yet the compass always remains. Its length (even though it is not specified here) must be exactly one foot, or half a foot, or a palm, or some other Measure, according to the craftsman's preference.

Small square printer's ornament featuring a symmetrical floral/geometric design.