Libro di arithmetica & geometria speculativa & praticale ... intitulato Scala Grimaldelli: novamente stampato(Colophon: Venice, Francesco de Leno), 1563. 4to. With the title in a 5-piece woodcut border with an allusive woodcut illustration (ladder and key), and with numerous woodcut diagrams, geometric figures and other illustrations printed in the large fore-edge margin. Contemporary sheepskin parchment.

[80] ll.1563 edition of a popular Italian treatise on arithmetic and geometry by the Italian mathematician Fransesco Feliciano da Lazesio (1570-1542). First published in 1526 at Venice, it became immensely popular and went through many, revised editions, the present edition probably being the 8th. It is divided into three parts, starting with an introduction, followed by a part on arithmetic and roots and a part on practical geometry and measurements. When first published it was the first book describing the use of the surveyor's cross, an innovative tool at a time when long distances were often merely estimated by sight. "Few books had greater influence on the subsequent teaching of elementary mathematics" (Smith). The work is generally known as the Scala grimaldelli. "The author explains the original title with a drawing on the front [title-page] depicting an actual ladder and a key, accompanied by a sonnet ... suggesting that you need a ladder (scala) to attack the castle and a key (grimaldello) to open the lock, just as you need a book to gain access to knowledge" (Gallozzi).Slightly browned, with a few marginal water stains and some occasional foxing and minor stains. Binding only slightly worn at the extremities. Overall in good condition.l A. Gallozzi, "Francesco Feliciano de Scolari" in: Distiguished figures in descriptive geometry... (2016), pp. 53- 65; Riccardi I, L-col. 22; D.E. Smith, Rara arithmetic, pp. 146-148.