The Castle of Knowledge

Title

The Castle of Knowledge

Heading

Expanding horizons: Mathematics and Astronomy

Description

Mathematics and astronomical works circulated in manuscript before the introduction of printing by movable type, and several continental incunabula deal with the subjects. England was different: Caxton’s only nod to the subjects in his Westminster output was in his encyclopaedic Myrrour of the Worlde (1481 and about 1489-90). Robert Record’s Castle of Knowledge (1556), a mathematical account of the sphere, was the first clear scientific description in English of elements of astronomy. The subject matter was highly relevant for mariners and for merchants trading abroad, and Record sought to make it accessible by writing in dialogue form in English.

The book is also quite innovative typographically. Although set largely in the black letter type that was common for vernacular books at the time, it uses bits of roman and italic type unknown to Caxton. Richard Pynson introduced roman type to England in 1509 in his editions of Pietro Griffi’s Oratio and Girolamo Savonarola’s Sermo. Wynkyn de Worde introduced italic type to England in two Latin works in 1528. Reynold Wolfe, the printer of this book, was the first to use italic in an English book, Record’s Pathway to Knowledge (1551).

Author

Robert Record

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Reyner Wolfe

Date of Publication

1556

Format

Folio

Century

16th

Illustrations

Woodcut

Link on Alma Digital

See the Augustus De Morgan database (members only)