Paper, 'Specilla circularia' [Circular mirror] by Huddenius [Johannes Hudde]

Description

This is a little-known work on optics by Johannes Hudde (1628-1704) called Specilla Circularia and dated 25 April 1656.

Its provenance is unclear, but it may be related to the interest among the members of the Royal Society and its correspondents in lenses and their optical properties.

For example, in a letter to Henry Oldenburg from 21 June 1677, Leibniz mentions visiting Hudde at Amsterdam in November 1676; Hudde claimed that he could 'describe a curve that is analytical or conforming to some constant equation which shall trace the profile of the face of some known individual'. (The Correspondence of Henry Oldenburg, ed. by Hall and Hall, vol. 13, pp. 303-14.)

Original figures appears in text and as an attachement.

The treatise was published: has been published in print:
R. Vermij / E. Atzema, Specilla circularia: an unknown work by Johannes Hudde, in: Studia Leibnitiana, vol. XXVII/1 (1995) pp. 104–121, Hudde's text pp. 113–121.

Subject: Optics

Reference number

CLP/2/5

Earliest possible date

25 April 1656

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

13 pages

Format

Manuscript