Squaring of the Circle

The top of this page is severely faded and stained. Ink from the reverse side has soaked through the paper. This creates a mirrored effect that makes the text at the top impossible to read.

A large, rectangular woodcut illustration. The scene shows a central standing figure. This person is likely a personification of Astronomy or Philosophy. She stands in a landscape with hills and thin plants. Above her is a celestial arch or zodiac band. It contains the stars and signs of the Lion, the Crab, the Twins, the Bull, and the Ram. A decorative rectangular border frames the entire scene.

Two distinct markings appear at the bottom of the page. On the lower left is an oval ink stamp for the National Library. In the center is a large, faint heraldic stamp. This coat of arms is topped with a crown and surrounded by a floral or laurel wreath.

zodiac The band of sky divided into twelve signs, used in both astronomy and geometry to track the movements of celestial bodies., celestial Relating to the sky or outer space., personification A human figure used to represent an abstract quality or idea., woodcut A print made from a carved wooden block., heraldry The study of coats of arms and symbols of lineage.