75/2359 [Optics]. Hartsoeker, N. Proeve der deurzicht-kunde, In het Frans beschreeven van de Heer -; En Vertaald door A: Block. Amst., J. ten Hoorn, 1699, (24),229,(1)p., engr. title-ill. showing a telescope, 1 plate showing a close-up of the moon, num. woodcut ills. and diagrams, contemp. vellum, 4to.

- Some sl. occas. foxing. Binding trifle soiled. A good/ fine copy.

= Hoogendoorn Hartsoe01D; Bierens de Haan 1926; Poggendorff I, p.1026; DSB VI, p.148f. Rare and important work on optics, containing an early image of a spermatozoon (p.226), which Hartsoeker discovered in 1674 (before Antoni van Leeuwenhoek made his discoveries) and which he believed to contain a preformed fetus. Nicolaas Hartsoeker (1656-1725), "A gifted autodicact in the natural sciences. Went to Paris with Christiaan Huygens in 1678. Established himself as an instrument maker in Rotterdam in 1679 and in Paris in 1684. (...) In 1704 he was appointed court mathematician to the Elector of Palatinate And professor in Heidelberg (...)" (Hoogendoorn p.454). SEE ILLUSTRATION PLATE CI.