Thony Christie
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rmathematicus.bsky.social
Thony Christie
@rmathematicus.bsky.social
12K followers 650 following 3.1K posts
Aging freak who fell in love with the history of science and now resides mostly in 16th century Nürnberg.
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rmathematicus.bsky.social
The rise of the scientific societies to discuss the new developments in natural philosophy in the 17th century #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/11/26/f...
A suitably regal first Royal Society President, portrait of William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker after Peter Lely
November 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Elias Allen: The leading scientific instrument maker in seventeenth-century London #histsci #histtech
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/11/19/t...
Engraved portrait of Elias Allen by Wenceslas Hollar surrounded by his tools and the instruments he made
November 19, 2025 at 8:16 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
A truly excellent book, highly recommended
thonyc.wordpress.com/2023/09/20/s...
Cover of Katy Barrett's book "Looking for Longitude"
November 13, 2025 at 7:07 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Christiaan Huygens' & his wave theory of light #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/11/12/f...
Portrait of Christiaan Huygens by Bernard Vaillant (1686) Diagram of light waves emanating from a candle
November 12, 2025 at 8:55 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Written before I got ill but never posted: Three more books on the history of medieval Islamicate culture #histsci

thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/t...
October 25, 2025 at 6:24 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
October 4, 2025 at 5:48 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Blaise Pascal, Torricellian tubes, the vacuum & air pressure #histsci #histtech

thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/10/01/f...
Portrait of Blaise Pascal artist unknown
October 1, 2025 at 6:17 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Charles Whitwell ‘probably the most skilled and versatile instrument maker of the Elizabethan period’ #histsci #histtech
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/09/24/c...
Horizontal compass sundial compendium made by Charles Whitwell An altitude sundial and perpetual calendar in the Museum of the History of Science Oxford. Signed: Charolus Whitwell Sculpit. Also inscribed Nathaniell Torporley.
September 24, 2025 at 8:07 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Historian of Science Anna Marie Roos is at it again: The Correspondence of Dr. Martin Lister (1639—1712). Volume Two: 1678—1694 is being published by Briil. E-Book is already available hardback appears 25 September #histsci
brill.com/display/titl...
September 22, 2025 at 8:05 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
René Descartes mechanics and cosmology #histsci

thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/09/17/f...
Left: engraved portrait of René Descartes Right: title page of Principia Philosophiæ
September 17, 2025 at 8:07 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
The maniacal, scribbling gnomes in the cellar of Ball Mansions have tossed of another tome:

Alchemy: An Illustrated History of Elixirs, Experiments, and the Birth of Modern Science

And it’s gorgeous!

#histsci
The Book Cover of Philip Ball's Alchemy: An Illustrated History of Elixirs, Experiments, and the Birth of Modern Science
September 12, 2025 at 12:29 PM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 6:12 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 6:12 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 6:11 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Historian of science Anna Marie Roos has published an edited edition of The Grand Tour Travel Diary Of Martin Folkes (1690–1754), "Taking Newton on Tour", for the Hakluyt Society
boydellandbrewer.com/book/taking-...
Cover of Talking Newton on Tour
September 12, 2025 at 6:10 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Book review: The history of science in Islamicate culture #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/09/10/t...
September 10, 2025 at 8:09 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
James Kynvyn (c. 1550–1621) a Welsh instrument maker who didn't fit the contemporary mould 'histsci #histtech
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/08/20/t...
Astronomical compendium made for Robert Devereaux with his coat of arms engrave inside the lid Astronomical compendium front and back
August 20, 2025 at 8:08 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Book Review: Benjamin Wardhaugh "Counting: Humans, History and the Infinite Lives of Numbers" #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/a...
Cover of Benjamin Wardhaugh's Counting: Humans, History and the Infinite Lives of Numbers
August 6, 2025 at 7:41 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
The two thousand year search for the sine law of refraction #histsci #histtech
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/f...
Ibn Sahl's manuscript of his discovery of the law of refraction
July 30, 2025 at 6:56 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
What perfect albums came out when you were 16?
1967
Album cover Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced Album Cover Country Joe and the Fish: Electric Music For the Mind and Body Album Cover Pink Floyd: Piper at the Gates of Dawn Album Cover Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Safe as Milk
July 24, 2025 at 6:02 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
The English aristocratic bastard, who advised the Florentines on matters nautical and published the first maritime atlas by an English author. #histsci #histtech
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/07/23/t...
Ornate, formal portrait of Sir Robert Dudley
July 23, 2025 at 7:47 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
English, Renaissance, mathematician, astronomer & advisor on all things navigational & cartographical, John Dee, was born 13 July 1527 #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2024/07/24/j...
Portrait of John Dee
July 13, 2025 at 5:38 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Book Review
Wilko Graf von Hardenberg, "Sea Level: A History" #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2025/07/09/h...
Cover of Wilko Graf von Hardenberg's book "Sea Level: A History"
July 9, 2025 at 8:19 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
Some Internet friends write beautiful books, some even send me free copies, expect review later in the year @afbdijkstra.bsky.social
Cover of Arjen Dijkstra's book "Builders of Heaven: How Eise Eisinga Created the Greatest Planetarium of His Time"
July 9, 2025 at 6:13 AM
rmathematicus.bsky.social
German, Jesuit, mathematician, astronomer and instrument maker Christoph Grienberger was born 2 July 1561 #histsci #histtech

thonyc.wordpress.com/2021/07/07/t... telescope on the left. On the right Scheiner’s acknowledgement that Grienberger was the inventor
Heliotropic telescope on the left. On the right Scheiner’s acknowledgement that Grienberger was the inventor
July 2, 2025 at 8:16 AM