Astronomical and Copernican Illustration in 16th century Books – Peurbach, Georg von [Purbachius] / Christian Wurstisen [Christianus Wursteisen / Christianus Urstisius].

Theoricae Novae Planetarum. Quibus accesserunt: Ioannis de Monte Regio Disputationes, super deliramenta Theoricarum Gerardi Cremonensis. Item. Ioannis Eßler Maguntini, Tractatus utilis ante LX annos conscriptus, cui Titulum fecit, Speculum Astrologorum, in quo Astrolog. errores, ex neglecta temporis aequatione prouententes, ostenduntur, & multa que ad Theoricarum, praesertim Octauae Sphaerae, intellectum faciunt, explicantur. / BOUND WITH: Quaestiones vero in Theoricas Planetarum Purbachij, authore Christiano Wurstisio Basil. eadem forma damus. Omnia recens in gratiam Candidatorum Astronomiae edita. Cum gratia& privilegio Caes. Maiest.

Basel, Henricpetri, 1569 – 1573. Small Octavo (11 cm x 16 cm). Collation for ‘Theoricae Novae Planetarum’: 8 Bll., 262 pages with many woodcuts throughout the text / Collation for ‘Quaestiones vero in Theoricas Planetarum Purbachij’: [1]; [8], 430 pages with 10 plates plus many woodcuts within the text. The Colophon for this second Volume missing ! [It is not clear how many plates were supposed to be in this edition – some carry 9, some 11]. Contemporary 16th century Hardcover with boards covered by an old page from a Missale. Spine repaired later (possibly 18th century) with matching vellum. Dampstain throughout the whole volume. Heavily annotated throughout in a contemporary hand.

California – Homann, Johann Baptist / Landteck, Zacharias.

[California shown as an Island] Geographische Universal-Zeig und Schlag-Uhr.

Original hand-coloured engraving, with the Cartographer showing California as an Island. Nürnberg, Homann, [c.1735]. Plate Size: 57 cm x 48.5 cm. Sheet Size: 60.5 cm x 51.7 cm. Original map. Very good, actually stunning, condition. Some faint trace of browning to upper corners of sheet. Very minor tears to edges at centre-fold.

[Clerke, Agnes Mary].

Collection of eight publications by and about Agnes Mary Clerke plus one autographed / signed manuscript-letter by Agnes Clerke [The letter answers the request of a fellow german Astronomer who complimented her on her History of Astronomy and asked for her permission to translate her latest work). The recipient is possibly german astronomer R.Engelmann who wrote about Nebula. The letter dates from 1891 and is written in perfect german (Agnes Clerke was known to have written reviews and letters in French, German, Greek and Italian). This rare collection includes the following books: 1. A.M.Clerke – Geschichte der Astronomie während des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts. Gemeinfasslich dargestellt. (Autorisierte deutsche Ausgabe von H.Maser) – First german edition of “A popular History of Astronomy during the 19th century” from 1889 – with a signed, contemporary manuscript letter by Agnes Clerke in german (!) regarding this publication / 2. Agnes Clerke – Familiar Studies in Homer (London, 1892) / 3. Agnes Clerke – “The Herschels and Modern Astronomy” (with a loosely inserted portrait of Sir William Herschel) (London, 1895) / 4. Agnes Clerke – “A popular History of Astronomy during the 19th century” (The important Fourth Edition, revised and corrected by the author) (London, Adam and Charles Black, 1902) – Famously: With the vintage photographs pasted to frontispiece and titlepage / 5. Agnes Clerke – “The System of the Stars” – Second Edition (London, 1905) / 6. Agnes Clerke – Modern Cosmogonies (London, 1905) / 7. Agnes Clerke – “A popular History of Astronomy during the 19th century” 1908-Reprint of the important Fourth Edition, revised and corrected by the author) (London, Adam and Charles Black, 1908) / 8. Mary Brueck / Mary Brück – Agnes Mary Clerke & The Rise of Astrophysics (Cambridge University Press, 2002).

A mixture of first and later editions. Berlin / London, Springer / Cassell / Longmans & Green and others, 1889 – 1908. Octavo. More than 2500 pages with many illustrations and diagrams etc. / The vintage letter has two pages filled and signed by Clerke in ink / The only modern publication within the collection is a very important monograph on Clerke by scientist Mary Brueck / Mary Brück, published by Cambridge University Press (275 pages). Original Hardcovers in bespoke protective collector’s Mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. A stunning collection of all the major publications by this important woman astronomer. Agnes Clerke paved the way for women in science and must be seen as the pioneer female astronomer. The price includes worldwide free shipping of the collection per UPS Express Courier.

Derham, William [Philosopher and Scientist] / [John Senex (Cartographer)].

Astro-Theology: or, a Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, From a Survey of the Heavens [Including a Chapter on the “Attraction of Gravity”].

Sixth Edition. London, W. Innys, 1731. Octavo. [16], LVI, [8], 246 pages,[10 pages of Index], [with 3 astronomical foldout engravings by english Cartographer and Explorer John Senex / The Engravings show the Ptolemaic Geocentric System with the Earth as centre of the Universe and discuss other models as well by pointing to pages within the text that reflect on the illustrations / Two of the Engravings are showing the Stars and Constellations over Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Asia etc.]. ]. Original Hardcover / bound in contemporary panelled calf. The book has been sympathetically rebacked to style. Besides a spot of hard green adhesive to the front board in very good condition. The armorial 18th century bookplate of one Dr. Blackett appears on the first pastedown [″A coat of arms divided into three portions, with three stars and three scallop shells throughout. At the helm is the head of an eagle, and elaborate mantling, flowers, and leaves surround the crest. Below is the motto ‘Nous Travailler ons dans L’Esperance’”] / The text of this rare and notoriously underrated book is complete and clean with the three foldout engravings of the cosmos to the rear with only a small archival paper restoration to one of the engravings.

Encke, Johann Franz.

Über die Cometenerscheinungen des Jahres 1835. [Über die Wiederkehr des Pons’schen Cometen im Jahre 1835 / Beobachtungen des Halley’schen Cometen auf der Berliner Sternwarte].

Erste Ausgabe. Berlin, Druckerei der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1836-1838. Quarto (23.2 cm x 28.5 cm). 18 Seiten (Seiten 99 – 116 des Jahrgangsbandes 1836). Moderne Broschur mit eingebundener Originalabhandlung. Sehr guter Zustand. Es handelt sich hier um die seltene, originale Erstausgabe der Publikation. Extrahiert aus dem Sammelband der Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Der originalen Publikation wurde eine Replika des Reihentitels vorgebunden. [Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Aus dem Jahre 1836].

Harvard Tercentenary Exhibitions.

Catalogue of Furniture Silver Pewter Glass Ceramics Paintings Prints. Together with Allied Arts and Crafts of the Period 1636 – 1836. [Including the “Orrery” by Joseph Pope [Astronomical Instrument, an early form of a Planetarium]]. Foreword by Edward W. Forbes. Arranged by a Committee of Graduates at Robinson Hall, School of Architecture Harvard University.

First Edition. Cambridge Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 1936. 18cm x 26cm. ix, 114 pages, 70 plates of illustrations. Original Hardcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Name of preowner on endpaper.

Hickam, Homer H., Jr.

Rocket Boys: A Memoir.

Advance Uncorrected Proof. New York, Delacorte Press / Bantam Doubleday, 1998. 15.5 x 23.5cm. 378 pages. Original softcover in protective sleeve. Excellent condition, as new.

[Huber, Daniel] Tournefort, J. Pitton de.

Histoire des plantes qui naissent aux environs de Paris, avec leur usages dans la Médecine. [Avec “Table des noms Latins des Plantes”].

Paris, Imprimerie Royale, 1698. Small-Octavo (10 cm x 17 cm). [28], 543, [9] pages. Hardcover / Original, early 18th-century full leather with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with some minor signs of wear only. From the library of swiss mathematician and astronomer Daniel Huber with at least two very minor manuscript annotations/corrections to the text. Subsequently this book was owned by the “Naturwissenschaftliche Museum in Basel”. Tournefort was notably the first to coin the term “Herbarium”.

Ideler, Christian Ludwig Ideler.

Über den astronomischen Theil der Fasti des Ovid.

Erste Ausgabe. Berlin, Druckerei der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1825. Quarto (22 cm x 26.5 cm). 32 Seiten (Seiten 137 – 169 des Jahrgangsbandes 1822-1823). Moderne Broschur mit eingebundener Originalabhandlung. Sehr guter Zustand bis auf kleinere Läsuren der ersten 12 Seiten (reparierter Riss im Rand (Text nicht betroffen). Es handelt sich hier um die seltene, originale Erstausgabe der Publikation. Extrahiert aus dem Sammelband der Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Der originalen Publikation wurde eine Replika des Reihentitels vorgebunden. [Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Aus den Jahren 1822 und 1823].

O’Connor, T.J.

High Vision: A Dedication To Morning Star.

First Edition. No publishing details given. no year (c.1980). 15.5 x 22.5cm. 62 pages, with illustrations and diagrams, including pull-out celestial plan on acetate. Original hardcover with dustjacket in protective Mylar. Excellent condition, with only minor signs of external wear, including sticker residue to dustjacket.