VOLVELLES
"It
is not known who invented the first mechanical device in a book, but one
of the earliest examples was produced in the 13th century by Catalan mystic
and poet Ramon Llull of Majorca who used a revolving disc or volvelle
[exhibit #28] to illustrate his theories. Throughout the centuries volvelles
have been used for such diverse purposes as teaching anatomy, making astronomical
predictions, creating secret codes, and telling fortunes. Yet, while it
can be documented that movable parts had been used for centuries, they
were almost always used in scholarly works. It was not until the 18th
century that these techniques were applied to books designed for entertainment,
particularly for children. "
A
Concise History of Pop-up and Movable Books by Ann Montanaro
1200Õs
Benedictine monk Matthew Paris created the first known Òvolvelle,Ó a paper
wheel which was attached to a page in book. Before the volvelle, monkÕs
had to turn a heavy book around in their lap to view a circular chart
from different angles. The chart told them when certain holidays should
be observed. MatthewÕs volvelle meant that only the circular chart needed
to be turned, not the heavy book.
Paper dials have been used for centuries as tools to illustrate complex principles.Ê In the 13th Century, Ramon Llull of Majorca used several paper instruments in his manuscript to support and to advocate his missionary arguments.Ê Llull designed his inventive dials--essentially paper machines--to illustrate religious truths objectively. (Source: What Was Llull Up To?, Anthony Bonner, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5284/compbon.html) .
Petrus
Apianus. 1495-1552.
Cosmographia. Antwerp: J. Belleru, 1574. This work reflects an earlier,
more flexible notion of the book, when the possibilities of printing were
being explored and the page was still a field for experimentation. While
maps, charts, and diagrams were not unexpected elements in this treatise
on navigation, instruments with moving parts were a bit of an innovation.
This book includes several moveable diagrams--or volvelle--made up of
printed paper disks attached by string to a central axis. The diagrams
can be manipulated to calculate the position of the sun, moon, and stars,
or operated like an astrolabe to assist in determining the position of
the ship at sea.
Petrus Apianus was the latinized name of the German astronomer and mathematician Peter Bennewitz (ÔBennewitzÕ means Ôbee-keeperÕ; ÔapisÕ is Latin for ÔbeeÕ). Apianus was the first to show how to calculate longitude by observing the distance of the moon from various stars. He was professor of astronomy at Ingolstadt and one of the few professors to give instruction in arithmetic in the German language. Some famous sundials made by Apian still exist in Austria.
FIRST EDITION of Ôthe most luxurious and intrinsically beautiful scientific book that has ever been producedÕ (de Solla Price); an exceptionally complete copy. ÔThe most spectacular contribution of the book-makerÕs art to sixteenth-century science was without doubt the Astronomicum Caesareum of Petrus Apianus. Designed for Charles V and his brother Ferdinand, the volume was in every way a luxurious and princely production. Its pages were large, brilliantly hand-coloured, and filled with ingeniously contrived mechanisms, sometimes with five or even six layers of paper disks, arranged to give planetary positions plus a variety of calendarial and astrological data. Published in 1540 É the book graphically displayed Ptolemaic astronomy in a fashion fit for a monarchÕs eyesÕ (Owen Gingerich, ÔApianusÕs Astronomicum CaesareumÕ, Journal for the history of astronomy II, 1971, p. 168). This work, which took Apianus eight years to produce and was printed on his private press at Ingolstadt, is really as much a scientific calculating instrument as a book. Preceded only by SchšnerÕs Aequatorium (1521) Ñ a smaller work of such rarity as to be practicably unprocurable Ñ the Astronomicum is the earliest instrument book
SCIENCE AND MEDICINE to function not simply as an instructional handbook accompanying an instrument but as an actual working instrument, or set of instruments. For the dissemination of calculating technology in a standardized and reproducible form, Poulle has compared the appearance of Ôpaper instrumentsÕ to nothing less than the advent of printing (see Les instruments de la Theorie des planetes 1.83). ÔA handsome volume, with thirty-seven full-page [sic] volvelles or revolving discs, in accord with ApianÕs belief that diagrams with movable parts are of greater aid than mathematical tables in solving astronomical problems. In fact, his volvelles are so constructed that each may function as an equatorium without the need of employing planetary tables. Those in the present volume relate to the calculation of the longitude of Mars. Published with a privilege for thirty years granted by Charles V on 3 July 1532, Part II contains Observationes cometarum quinque, including an account of the comet of 1531. The final section on the torquetum had been issued in ApianÕs Introductio geographica, Ingolstadt 1533. ÔThe Astronomicum is notable for ApianÕs pioneer observations of comets (he describes the appearances and characteristics of five comets, including HalleyÕs) and his statement that comets point their tails away from the sun. Also important is his imaginative use of simple mechanical devices, including volvelles, to provide information on the position and movement of celestial bodiesÕ (DSB). This work embodies Ôthe culmination of the rediscovery of PtolemyÕ (Gingerich). This is an exceptionally complete and large copy. Copies usually have far fewer volvelles, as for example the Honeyman copy which has 76. This copy also retains a number of the sliding seed pearls (meant to be used as markers) which are almost always missing
Modern replicas
This volvelle is a movable diagram designed to aid in the calculation of the locations of the planets throughout the year.Ê Collection of astrological writings (15th century, English, Ms 6680).
A volvelle from a 16th c edition of Sph¾ra Mundi that illustrates a lunar eclipse.
ANONYMOUS, Theorica Planetarum In Latin, illustrated manuscript, on paper Italy, Verona?, c. 1580-1600
One of evidently only three copies known of a richly illustrated astronomical handbook filled with colored diagrams and movable volvelles that show the persistence of the Ptolemaic world view as expressed in his Almagest, which remained a cornerstone of astronomical thought even after the discoveries of Nicolaus Copernicus (1475-1543). The present manuscript probably served as a demonstration text for a teacher-astronomer.
http://www.textmanuscripts.com/home/THEME/themesciencedescritpion.php?m=76
The Disappearing Alphabet by Richard Wilbur Published by Catawba Press 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 3/8 inches The cover has a volvelle (revolving wheel) and gold stamped ornaments and is sewn with linen thread. In flip-book format, the book has cotton embroidery thread and Japanese-style sewing. Papers of Mohawk Vellum have a vanishing calligraphic alphabet to echo WilburÕs verses on the consequences of disappearing letters.
For more artists books see: http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw/gallery/abecedarium/abc1.htm
see also:
http://www.adh.brighton.ac.uk/schoolofdesign/MA.course/LMM11.html for more volvelles and moving illustrations
Also:
BOOKS
Materials and Construction Three dimensional aspects of the Book
A Concise History of Pop-up and Movable Books by Ann Montanaro
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