Curiosa
Related: curious - cabinet of curiosities - bizarre
The engraved title page of Physica Curiosa (1697) - Gaspar Schott
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The earliest publication of the Curiosa, Sive Mirabilia Naturć et Artis Libris is 1662.
Definition
Books or other writings dealing with unusual, especially pornographic, topics.--American Heritage DictionaryFacetious
1592, from Fr. facétieux, from facétie "a joke," from L. facetia, from facetus "witty, elegant," of unknown origin, perhaps related to facis "torch." It implies a desire to be amusing, often intrusive or ill-timed. "Facetious
Intended to excite laughter or amusement: comedic, funny, humorous, jocose, jocular, witty. --Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
Nederlands: geestig
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, the flamboyant Irishman, self-proclaimed genius, rage of London, master of the facetious, and champion of the aesthetic movement. --Don Swaim [May 2005]
Physica Curiosa (1697) - Gaspar Schott
Gaspar Schott
Gaspar Schott (February 5, 1608 - May 22, 1666) was a German scientist, specializing in the fields of physics, mathematics and natural philosophy, and known for his piety. He was born at Königshofen and died at Augsburg (or Würzburg, sources vary).
In 1627 Schott entered the Society of Jesus. He studied first at the University of Wuerzburg but due to the Thirty Years' War he left the Holy Roman Empire, eventually finishing his studies at the University of Palermo. He studied under Athanasius Kircher, who was his mentor for many years. He corresponded with many researchers and inventors, like Otto von Guericke, Christiaan Huygens and Robert Boyle.
Schott is most widely known for his works on hydraulic and mechanical instruments. His treatise on "chronometric marvels" contains the first description of a universal joint and the classification of gear teeth. He was the author of a number of works on mathematics, physics, and magic. However, his books were largely compendia of reports he received or books he read and he mostly repeated experiments, doing little, if any, original research.
Among his most famous works is the book "Magia universalis naturć et artis" (4 vols., Würtzburg, 1657-1659), filled with many mathematical problems and physical experiments, notably in optics and acoustics. His "Mechanicahydraulica-pneumatica" (Würtzburg, 1657) contains the first description of von Guericke's air pump. He also published "Pantometricum Kircherianum" (Würtzburg, 1660); "Physica curiosa" (Würtzburg, 1662), a supplement to the "Magia universalis"; "Anatomia physico-hydrostatica fontium et fluminum" (Würtzburg, 1663), and a several editions of "Cursus mathematicus". He also edited the "Itinerarium extacticum" of Athanasius Kircher and the "Amussis Ferdidindea" of Albert Curtz. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspar_Schott [Feb 2006]
The author was a German Jesuit priest and friend of Kircher. Contains 61 plates, celebrated in fantastic bibliographies such as Caillet’s. -- http://fantastic.library.cornell.edu/bookrecord.php?record=F002 [Feb 2006]
Caillet, Albert (1869-1922). Manuel bibliographique des sciences psychiques ou occultes, sciences des mages, hermétique, astrologie, kabbale, franc-maconnerie, médecine ancienne, mésmerisme, sorcellerie, singularités, abérrations de tout ordre, curiosités, 3 vols., Paris, 1912. (1831 pp.)
Considéré comme la référence des ouvrages sur les sciences occultes, cette bibliographie exhaustive classe 11 600 livres, sur la magie, l'astrologie, la Kabale, le mesmérisme, la sorcellerie et les curiosa. Caillet apporte le titre complet, l'adresse bibliographique, et la collation ainsi que des notes sur les ouvrages et de brčves données bibliographiques sur l'auteur. --http://www.rarebooks.fr/Rubrique_Approf/ourbibliographie.asp?pages=bibilographie&loc=Fr
See also: 1660s - science - curiosa
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