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A specimen of a general catalogue, arranged in zones of north polar distance, and adapted to Jan. 1, 1790: containing a comparative view of the mean positions of stars, nebulae, and clusters of stars ... Together with a proposal for setting on foot some regular method of observing the heavens, through the concurrent assistance of astronomers in all nations by WOLLASTON, Francis

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Seller: Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts
Title
A specimen of a general catalogue, arranged in zones of north polar distance, and adapted to Jan. 1, 1790: containing a comparative view of the mean positions of stars, nebulae, and clusters of stars ... Together with a proposal for setting on foot some regular method of observing the heavens, through the concurrent assistance of astronomers in all nations
Author
WOLLASTON, Francis
Seller
Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts (United States)
Description
London: G. And T. Wilkie, 1789. FIRST EDITION. With 3 engraved illustrations. Modern boards, spine label; other than some very light marginal browning, an excellent overall copy. First edition of this uncommon and practical star catalogue compiled by Francis Wollaston, and a precursor to his more ambitious Fasciculus Astronomicus of 1800. The present volume was considered to be of great value by contemporaries, and used by the likes of William Herschel. The arrangement in Zones of North Polar distance was an innovation of Wollaston, who collected the stars from various catalogues, from Hevelius to the present day. “A substantial collection of comparative catalogues with a preface announcing [Wollaston’s] plan and discussing the many previous catalogues on which he based his coordinates ... Wollaston long entertained the hope that astronomers might collaborate on a general plan for improving star catalogues and drafting them in a way that would facilitate the measurement of small stellar movement” (DSB). The volume includes “An index to the stars in the British Catalogue”; “Flamsteed’s British Catalogue, and De la Caille’s Southern Catalogues arranged in the order of right ascension for January 1, 1790”; and “A Zodiacal Catalogue” as well as information taken from the Astronomer Royal, Nevil Maskelyne’s own catalogues. The three illustrations found in the advertisements at the end are also of interest. These engravings “from which any number of impressions may be had” were intended to be used by the reader to represent both “the field of view of a telescope” and to “assist in making such a plan of a small portion of the heavens,” suggesting that the catalogue was intended for both the professional and the “gentleman astronomer.” Brown, Astronomical atlases, maps & charts, p. 63; Lalande, p. 610; not in Houzeau-Lancaster.

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