B chapter.indd - Charles Babbage Institute - University of Minnesota

206
Erwin Tomash Library
Briggs, Henry Briggs, Henry
figure table of logarithms for numbers up to 200,000,
the last half of which had been newly calculated. With
these two exceptions, all other pre-twentieth century
tables were simply edited copies of the original Briggs
and Vlacq computations (see the entry for Babbage,
Charles; Notice respecting some errors common to
many tables of logarithms, 1829).
Illustrations available:
Title page
Critical logarithms
First page of log table
B 251
Briggs, Henry (1561–1631)
Arithmetica logarithmica sive logarithmorum chiliades
triginta, pro numeris naturali serie crescentibus ab
unitate ad 20,000: et a 90,000 ad 100,000. Quorum
ope multa perficiuntur arithmetica problemata et
geometrica.
Year: 1624
Place: London
Publisher: W. Jones
Edition: 1st (another issue)
Language: Latin
Binding: contemporary leather; gilt embossed covers
Pagination: pp. [8], 88, [300], [12]
Collation: a–m 4 A–Q 6 R 4 4H 8 4I–4O 6 * 6 6
Size: 324x215 mm
Reference: Pogg Vol. I, p. 298; DSB II, p. 462; Hend BTM,
#18, p. 40; Horb CC, #38, pp. 33; Car PMM, #116, pp.
69–70
This is another issue of the first edition of Briggs’
logarithms. It is identical to the first issue with the
exception that it contains six additional pages with the
logarithms for number from 100,001 to 101,000 and
a table of square roots for the numbers from 1 to 100.
These six additional sheets are pasted in.
Illustrations available:
Title page
Square root table
B 252
Briggs, Henry (1561–1631)
The first chiliad of logarithmes, called in the discourse
aforegoing the table of numbers.
b/w: Gunter, Edmund; Canon triangulorum, or a
logarithmeticall table: wherein are set downe
logarithmes of the sines, & tangents of all
the degrees, & minutes of the quadrant. The
logarithme of the radius, or semy-diameter beeing
100000000, 1626
Year: 1626
Place: Oxford
Publisher: n/p
Edition: 1st (English)
Language: English
Binding: contemporary leather; red leather label
Pagination: ff. [109]
Collation: A8B4 –R8S4T1 B 252
Size: 106x50 mm
Reference: STC, 3742; Kno NTMV, p. 222
This is a very small set of logarithmic tables for values
between 1 and 1,000. The logarithms are to eight decimal
digits, and the differences between each logarithm are
noted (differences are useful for interpolating between
values). There is no explanation of any kind, the only text
being the title page. This was not the first time Briggsian
logarithms had been printed, but it is the first in such a
portable format and the first in English (if you count an
English title page). The Briggs tables occupy the first 22
leaves and Gunter’s the rest of the volume.
Illustrations available:
Title page
Sample table page
B 253
Briggs, Henry (1561–1631)
Logarithmicall arithmeticke. Or tables of logarithmes
for absolute numbers from an unite to 100000, as also
for sines, tangentes and secantes for every minute
of a quadrant, with a plaine description of their use
in arithmetike, geometrie, geographie, astronomie,
navigation, &c
b/w: de Decker, Ezechiel; Tweede deel van de nievwe
tel-konst ofte wonderliicke konstighe tafel,
inhoudende de logarithmi, voor de getallen van 1
af tot 100000 toe. Eerst ghevonden van Iohanne
Nepero, …