Mathematical Treasure: Johann Jakob Heinlin’s Synopsis Mathematica

Johann Jakob Heinlin (1588–1660, surname sometimes spelled “Hainlin”) was a German mathematician and astronomer. While most often recognized for his work as a Lutheran theologian who re-established churches after the Thirty Years’ War, he is also remembered as the author of Synopsis Mathematica Universalis (1653). This compilation of mathematics and its applications went through many editions and was translated into English in 1702. A 1729 printing can be viewed in Mathematical Treasures.

The first page of the table of contents, Heinlin’s summary of arithmetic, multiplication facts in list and tabular form, and Heinlin’s summary of astronomy are shown below.

A full digitization is available from the University Library of the University of Tübingen. A digitization of the 1663 second edition owned by the Bavarian State Library may be viewed in GoogleBooks. Heinlin adjusted the title to claim that his coverage of mathematics was now “universal”.

A digitization of the 1679 third edition, from the copy owned by the National Library of Naples, is also available from GoogleBooks.

Index to Mathematical Treasures