Recreations mathématiqves. Composées De plusieurs Problemes plaisans & facetieux d'Arithmetique, Geometrie, Astrologie, Optique, Perspectiue, Mechanique, & d'autres rares & curieux Secrets : Plusieurs desquels n'ont iamais esté Imprimez. Premiere et seconde partie. La troisieme Partie contient vn Recueil de plusieurs gentilles & recreatiues inuentions de feux d'artifice. La maniere de faire toutes sortes de fuzées, simples & composées. Le tout representé par figures

New edition illustrated with 79 woodcuts in the text (cf. Bibliographie der Spielbücher).

Contemporary limp vellum, plain spine rubbed and soiled, covers stained.

Light dampstaining at the head of the opening leaves, at the foot of the first part, and affecting other leaves.

The work is generally attributed to Father Leurechon (1591-1670), a Jesuit from Lorraine, professor of mathematics, philosophy and theology at the University of Pont-à-Mousson (Dictionary of Scientific Biography VIII 271), though its authorship remains disputed (cf. David Singmaster, Bibliography of Some Recreational Mathematics Books, 2004, who attributes it to Hendrik van Etten).

It comprises more than 130 mathematical recreations and problems of recreational physics in the tradition of Bachet de Méziriac’s Problèmes plaisans. It includes principles as elementary as the rule of three, as well as the mathematical aspects of games such as "Paulme, Truc ou de billart, Paille maille & autres semblables" like checkers and chess, or ingenious devices such as « Par le moyen de deux miroirs plans faire voir une image volant en l'air ayant la teste en bas » or the thermometer invented in Italy half a century earlier. These examples of recreational physics ensured the success of the work, which was reprinted or translated nearly 70 times from 1624 through the end of the seventeenth century. The third part is devoted to the art of making fireworks.