An Atlas of Astronomy

Second Hand
Hardcover
Published by: George Philip & Son

1st edition. Book Condition: Good+. Dust Jacket: N/A.
A scarce volume with stunning lunar plates and including hand drawn inserts depicting saros cycles and eclipses spanning hundreds of years.
An almost square binding in blue cloth with gilt zodiac decoration to spine and front board; all edges gilt. Light wear to extremities, moreso to top and bottom of spine; slight spine fade, small pale stain to front board; both hinges split, held by the cloth of the binding tape however both joints are sound; rear endpaper and final leaf detached but present; gilt edges remaining bright. Internally crisp and clean with the occasional light spotting, moreso to the first and last few leaves; small signature to top of half title page dated 6/95.
Includes 72 plates, some of which include a hint of colour; the moon plates are particularly stunning. All plates and tissue guards present; a small number of tissue guards are creased.
xi + 57pp. + 72 plates + 17pp. index.
Also included are numerous contemporary items slipped inside, including a world map with hand-drawn lines depicting the saros cycle and eclipses, a UK map with hand-drawn lines depicting the eclipses from the years 878 to 1999, and numerous newspaper cuttings.
Overall Good+ due to binding; otherwise Very Good.
Scarce.
Photos available on request.
Ball, Royal Astronomer of Ireland, was involved in the popularisation of science, particularly astronomy, during the second half of the nineteenth century, and this Atlas was intended by him to facilitate the study of the heavens.