The artful early instruments of Peter Apian: Ein kunstlich Instrument of 1524, its precursors and its successors

Abstract

In 1524, Petrus Apianus published two closely related works—one the Latin Cosmographicus liber, aimed at an educated audience of international readers, and the other, Ein kunstlich Instrument, a shorter, more practical book for those who could read German but had no Latin. Both books nevertheless make use of most of the same instruments, including Apianus’ early volvelles. Most of these instruments also reappear in subsequent editions of Cosmographicus liber (or Cosmographia, a frequent alternative title). While the Cosmographicus liber has received much scholarly attention, Ein kunstlich Instrument has received very little. In this paper we (1) set the instruments of Ein kunstlich Instrument in the context of Apianus’ earlier work, especially his lost Mappa mundi and the extant booklets ( Declaratio and Isagoge) that explained it, (2) compare the German- and Latin-language books of 1524, (3) explain in detail those instruments that have not heretofore been adequately discussed, and (4) explore their later history. We also make available, in the on-line edition of the Journal, working virtual copies of Apianus’ instruments from Ein kunstlich Instrument.