Kepler to Müller, 26 August 1630
Johannes Kepler, “Kepler to Müller, 26 August 1630,” Nova Kepleriana 4, August 26, 1630, 76–77, transcribed in Plain Old Text, https://sources.vjbe.net/stable/zq6m1.
Nova Kepleriana 4 26 Aug, 1630, p. 76–77 Summary
Part of Die Keplerbriefe auf der Nationalbibliothek und auf der Sternwarte in Paris
Kepler sends the remaining years of the *Ephemerides*, to 1636, in two casks, with instructions for storing them at Frankfurt and for the entry in the fair catalogue.
Source: Johannes Kepler's letter to Philipp Müller written at Sagan on 26 August 1630, sending the last years of his Ephemerides (to 1636) in casks to Leipzig, with instructions for their sale at the Frankfurt fair. The original is in the Bibliothèque nationale, Paris (Nouv. acq. lat. 1635, fols. 100–101; 89, 8. H. 21), with a copy in the Bibliothèque de l'Observatoire. First printed in Nova Kepleriana 4, ed. Walther von Dyck and Max Caspar, Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Math.-naturw. Abteilung 31, no. 1 (Munich, 1927), 76–77.
Transcribed from: the page images of the 1927 printing.
Only the letter is given; the editors’ German summary and notes are left out. [struck out:] and [in another hand:] translate the editors’ German notes gestrichen and von anderer Hand.
English translation of the letter as printed in Nova Kepleriana 4 (1927), made for Plain Old Text. Each paragraph translates the corresponding paragraph of the original, including the German on the cover. The title for the fair catalogue is left in Latin, as Kepler wrote it.
S. P. D.
Many greetings.
Clarissime excellentissimeque Vir, D. amice honorande.
Most famous and most excellent Sir, honoured friend.
En tandem et annos 29, 34, 35, 36, qui finis est tomi mei Ephemeridum. Exemplaria sunt 600, quot et prius dolium complectebatur annorum 30, 31, 32, 33. Sed ne vacaret locus, addita sunt 350 de anno 1628. Praeterea accipies parvum dolium, in quo sunt exemplaria 70 ab anno 1629 in 36 integra. Nihil enim deest nisi dedicatio in hos annos, qui sunt ex Bartschiano calculo; destinatur autem Patrono meo.
Here at last are the years 29, 34, 35 and 36 as well, which complete my volume of Ephemerides. There are 600 copies, as many as the earlier cask held of the years 30, 31, 32 and 33. But so that no space should be left empty, 350 of the year 1628 have been added. Besides these, you will receive a small cask holding 70 complete copies from 1629 to 1636. For nothing is missing except the dedication for these years, which are from Bartsch’s calculation; it is meant for my Patron.
De his sic velim fieri. Si adhuc certi aurigae sunt in promptu, qui Francofurtum eant, illis commendetur pro pretio stato et ab aliis penso dolium utrumque majus et quod Paschate misi et quod jam mitto. Voigtiani exsolvant pro vectura, interimque Francofurti dolia conclusa asservent; donec a me venerit, qui restituta illis vectura mercede dolia repetat.
This is how I should like them dealt with. If there are still reliable carters at hand going to Frankfurt, let both the larger casks, the one I sent at Easter and the one I send now, be entrusted to them at the fixed price that others pay. Let Voigt’s people pay the carriage, and meanwhile keep the casks closed at Frankfurt, until someone comes from me to collect them and repays them the carriage.
Et tunc parvum dolium maneat Lipsiae, transportandum Noribergam, ubi iterum scripsero.
And then let the small cask stay at Leipzig, to be carried to Nuremberg when I write again.
Sin autem aurigae abiere, summis precibus rogo, ut parvum dolium cum 70 exempl. commendetur cisiariorum aut mercatorum uni, ut id in nundinis Francofurti sit. D. Bartl. Voigtus, aut suorum hominum aliquis curabit inseri catalogo titulo: Jo. Kepleri [struck out:] (Mathematici Caes.) Ephemeridum in annos XX tomus unus, ab anno 1617 in 1636. Absolutus Sagani in Silesia, anno 1630. Quia nihil Tampachius respondit, dubius sum, utrum profitear in titulo, reperiri apud Tampachium. Nec sane illi permitto, nisi solverit omnes sumptus. Puto autem, non esse necesse, ut inseratur catalogo, ubi reperiatur. Hoc te scire necesse est, si putas te consilium meum emendare posse, quod anni 1617, 18, 19, 20 jam sint Francofurti cum Prolegomenis apud Tampachium, qui dudum mihi renunciavit meos libros, nec hactenus quicquam diversum, ad seria mea postulata, rescripsit. Anni 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 jam sunt impressi, non minus quam a 28 in 36. In anno 1627 jam inceperunt. Supersunt residua de 1627 et totus 1626, qui absolventur intra 3 septimanas. Nihil enim in calculo deest amplius. Tres addo titulos seu praefationes, unum ad 1629 super 8 sequentes, alterum ad 1621 super 8 ab eo jam exactos, et generalem totius tomi, in quo index contentorum.
But if the carters have gone, I beg you most earnestly to entrust the small cask with the 70 copies to one of the coachmen or merchants, so that it is at the Frankfurt fair. Mr Bartl. Voigt, or one of his people, will see that it is entered in the catalogue under the title: Jo. Kepleri [struck out:] (Mathematici Caes.) Ephemeridum in annos XX tomus unus, ab anno 1617 in 1636. Absolutus Sagani in Silesia, anno 1630.“One volume of the Ephemerides of Jo. Kepler (Imperial Mathematician) for twenty years, from 1617 to 1636. Completed at Sagan in Silesia, 1630.” Since Tampach has not answered, I am in doubt whether to state in the title that it is to be had from Tampach. And indeed I do not allow him that unless he has paid all the costs. But I think there is no need for the catalogue to say where it is to be had. You need to know this, in case you think you can improve on my plan: the years 1617, 18, 19 and 20 are already at Frankfurt, with the Prolegomena, with Tampach, who long ago gave up my books, and has so far written back nothing different in answer to my serious demands. The years 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are already printed, no less than those from 28 to 36. They have already begun on 1627. What remains is the rest of 1627 and the whole of 1626, which will be finished within 3 weeks, for nothing more is lacking in the calculation. I am adding three titles or prefaces: one to 1629, over the 8 years that follow; another to 1621, over the 8 years from it already finished; and a general one to the whole volume, with an index of contents.
Si abest Voigtus, aut, si consultius etiam putas, te custodem, et si non, nimium peto, procuratorem doliorum precibus constituo obnixis.
If Voigt is away, or if you think it wiser even so, I earnestly beg you to be keeper yourself, and, if I do not ask too much, agent for the casks.
Summa in festinatione perscripsi, domo absens, Sagani, 26. Augusti, anno 1630.
Written in the greatest haste, away from home, at Sagan, 26 August 1630.
Cl. Ex. T.
officiosissimus
J. Kepler
Mathematicus.
Your Excellency’s
most dutiful
J. Kepler,
Mathematician.
Rogo cum Voigtianis communices
consilia et contenta.
Please share the plans
and contents with Voigt’s people.
Clarissimo Excellentissimoque Viro D.
Philippo Miller, Medicinae Licentiato,
Academiae Lipsiensis Professori Philosophico, D. Amico meo
pretioso.
Leipzig.
To the most famous and most excellent Mr
Philipp Müller, Licentiate of Medicine,
Professor of Philosophy in the University of Leipzig, my precious
friend,
Leipzig.
[In another hand:]
Sampt 2 Fäßlein. 4 1/8 Centner.
[In another hand:]
With 2 small casks. 4 1/8 hundredweight.
In abwesen von seinen Hausgenoßen zu erbrechen, und den Inhalt denen Voigtischen zu eröfnen.
In his absence to be opened by his household, and the contents made known to Voigt’s people.