Conference announcement: Printing mathematics in the early modern world

Printing mathematics in the early modern world

Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 December 2013 (note new dates): 10am–5pm All Souls College, Oxford

The early modern period saw the printing, in large numbers, of mathematical tables, primers, textbooks and practical manuals, as well as the incorporation of mathematical notation into a wide range of works on other subjects. Algebraic notation, diagrams and even printed mathematical instruments all raised unusual problems for print. The development of appropriate layouts and conventions, the establishment of workable print-shop procedures, and the detection and management of error all required distinctive solutions where the printing of mathematics was concerned. Those problems and their solutions are the subject of this two-day workshop, to be held in All Souls College, Oxford.

A limited number of places are available for observers. The cost will be £20, and will cover attendance at the conference sessions, with tea and coffee. Unfortunately accommodation cannot be provided for observers.

To reserve a place, or for any enquiries, please contact benjamin.wardhaugh@all-souls.ox.ac.uk

Provisional programme

"Authors and readers"

        Richard J. Oosterhoff, Notre Dame: "Printing Proofs in Paris c. 1500: Communal Authorship, the Typography of Enunciations, and the Point of Demonstration".

        Leo Rogers, Oxford: “Printing Mathematical Texts in England in the 16th Century”.

        Katherine Hunt, Birkbeck: tba.

        Dagmar Mrozik, Wuppertal: "Mathematical authorship and its display in the Society of Jesus: Between individual and Jesuit".

        Gregg De Young, The American University in Cairo: "Early printing of mathematics in Arabic".

"Collections and collectors"

        Renae Satterley, the Middle Temple Library: "Robert Ashley (1565–1641): collecting and using mathematical books at the Middle Temple"

        Tabitha Tuckett, London: tba.

       

"Diagrams"

        Renzo Baldasso, Arizona: "The Technical Dimension of Early Printed Mathematical Diagrams, 1474–1482".

        Stephen Boyd Davis, Royal College of Art: "'If an idea bear any relation to quantity of any kind' - devising and printing historical time in the eighteenth century".    

        Matthew Eddy, Durham: "Appropriation or Invention? Chemistry, Ratios and the Visual Anthropology of Matter".

"Space and aesthetics"

        Robin Rider, Wisconsin: "The power of negative space: 18th-century French mathematics in print".

        Travis Williams, Rhode Island: "Managing Notational White in Early Modern Printed Mathematics".

        Alex Marr, Cambridge: "The Aesthetics of Early-Modern Printed Mathematical Instruments".

"Error and correction"

        David Bellhouse, Western Ontario: "Errors in mathematical tables".

        Richard Kremer, Dartmouth: "On Printing 'Meaningless' Numbers, or Controlling Errors in Incunable Astronomical Tables".

        Benjamin Wardhaugh, Oxford: "Error and its handling in Georgian mathematics books".