1760 - Bolyai,J.

Bolyai,J. Appendix scientiam spatii absolute veram exhibens: a veritate aut falsitate axiomatis XI. Euclidei, a priori haud unquam decidenda, independentem: adiecta ad casum falsitatis quadratura circuli geometrica. Leipzig, B.G.Teubner 1903. 4°. 4 pp., 40 p. With 7 folding plates. Softcover. Dibner, Heralds of Science 116 Cf. Horblit 69b and DSB II, 271 - Rare first single edition of Janos Bolyai's magnum opus, published by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on the occasion of the author's centenary. - This important treatise first appeared in 1832 as an appendix to his father Farkas Bolyai's Tentamen iuventutem. - "In the 26 page appendix to the mathematical work of his father, the young Bolyai established a generalized system of geometry free of Euclidian premises of the parallel-axiom, attempted earlier but neglected by Gauss" (Dibner). - "Independent early essay on non-Euclidean geometry, termed by Halsted (the translator into English)". "The most extraordinary two dozen pages in the history of thought". (Horblit). - Untrimmed and almost spotless, pamphlet partly minimally dusty; a very good copy.