Byrne: Six Books of Euclid

Ancient Greek mathematics meet modernist design

Nearly a century before Mondrian made geometrical red, yellow, and blue lines famous, 19th-century mathematician Oliver Byrne employed the colour scheme for his 1847 edition of Euclid s mathematical and geometric treatise Elements. Byrne s idea was to use colour to make learning easier and diffuse permanent knowledge. The result has been described as one of the oddest and most beautiful books of the 19th century.

The facsimile of Byrne s vivid publication is now available as part of TASCHEN s Bibliotheca Universalis series. A masterwork of art and science, it is as beautiful in the boldness of its red, yellow, and blue figures and diagrams as it is in the mathematical precision of its theories. In the simplicity of forms and colours, the pages anticipate the vigour of De Stijl and Bauhaus design. In making complex information at once accessible and aesthetically engaging, this work is a forerunner to the information graphics that today define much of our data consumption.

About the series:

Bibliotheca Universalis — Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe at an unbeatable, democratic price!

Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing. Bibliotheca Universalis brings together more than 100 of our all-time favourite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.

Bookworm’s delight — never bore, always excite!