Beschreibung:

LALANDE, Joseph Jérôme Le Français de (1732-1807). Bibliographie astronomique; avec l'histoire de l'astronomie depuis 1781 jusqu'à 1802. Paris: L'Imprimerie de la République, 1803, An XI. 4 o (260 x 215 mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece of Lalande. Contemporary French red straight-grained morocco, sides with double gilt-fillet borders and a scrolled floral roll, spine gilt, edges gilt, by Jean-Claude Bozérian, stamp signed at foot of spine (skilfully rebacked preserving original spine, some rubbing to extemities). Provenance : Robert Barclay (bookplate); James Ludovic Lindsay, twenty-sixth Earl of Crawford and ninth Earl of Balcarres (Biblioteca Lindesiana bookplate). FIRST EDITION OF LALANDE'S IMPORTANT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ASTRONOMICAL BOOKS. Born at Bourg-en-Bresse, Lalande studied law but Pierre Lemonnier encouraged his interests in astronomy and sent him to Berlin to make observations on the lunar parallax. He was admitted to the Academy of Berlin and was named adjunct astronomer to the University of Paris. In 1759 he published a corrected edition of Halley's tables, with a history of the celebrated comet named in Halley's honor which returned that year. In 1762 Lalande was appointed to the chair of astronomy in the Collège de France, and here he remained for forty-six years. The first section (pages [1]-660) is a bibliography of astronomical works, listed chronologically and starting with ancient Greek texts. Formats and page counts are provided for most books. The great works of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Cassini are all included. On pages [661]-880 is a brief history of astronomy from 1781 to 1802. An index of authors is at the end. Besterman I, 586.