[OPTICS]. NICERON, F. Jean Fran?ois (1613-1646). La Perspective Curieuse ou Magie Artificiele des Effets Merveilleux? Paris: Pierre Billaine, 1638. 4to. Illustrated with engraved title-page and all 25 engraved perspective plates. [xxii], 1-[122] pp. Bound in contemporary limp vellum (biding worn, soiled, wrinkled, text wrinkled, toned, worm damage at outer margin throughout text and on plates with some minor loss, near contemporary ownership inscription on upper margin of engraved title-page). Very good.FIRST EDITION OF THIS RARE BOOK ON OPTICS AND DIOPTICS (refraction through the use of lenses). The text of this treatise in divided into four parts, including: geometric optics and perspective; the art of drawing in perspective; anamorphoses from a singular point, and finally deformations caused by refraction. The plates were drawn by Niceron himself. Book IV "contains perhaps the first published reference to Descartes' derivation of the law of refraction (1638) and thus gains some historical significance" (DSB).?Measurements: 14"L x 12"W x 2"H.