Astronomy

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1887

Printed at “The Mercury” Office Hobart in 1888. Bound in original salmon pink paper covered boards, lxvii pages ,289 pages plus 43 lithographic plates mainly of botanical items at the rear. Other folding plates and tables some of significant interest.

Many papers demonstrating the broad range of intellect in Tasmania at that time.

Much on fish and the introduction of salmon by Saville-Kent. New botanical discoveries … a short paper on the Comets of 1880 and 1887 with a useful chart … a surprising paper on the orbit of Alpha Centauri. Topographically Colonel Legge’s paper on the Highlands of Lake St Clair is of a high standard and the lengthy review of the Tertiary Rock of Australia by the esteemed R.M. Johnston similarly with many folding tables accompanying this article.

Showing some age and wear to the covers, see images, and some minor soiling lower down on a few of the preliminary pages, still a very good example of a scarce and worthy journal.

Substantial Journal with a broad range of Tasmanian interests – many engraved plates.

$60.00

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A Plurality of Worlds – Bernard de Fontenelle – John Glanvill’s Translation – With a Prologue by David Garnett. Beautiful Limited Printing by the Nonesuch Press 1929 – Holden Provenance

A really striking production by the Nonesuch Press, England published in 1929. Octavo, x, 138 pages, bound in full vellum. The gold illumination to the front is as delicate as it is stunning.

Nonesuch printed 1,200 copies and another 400 were produced by Randon House in the USA. The book design was by Francis Meynell, composed by T.W. Hay at the Nonesuch Press, and printed on Van Gelder paper at the Curwen Press (what a combination). The colour decorations were by T.L. Poulton and were stencilled to the item one by one.

This copy is number 1215 and has exceptional Australian provenance carrying the bookplate of Edward Wheewall Holden – Yes, the founder of Holden cars.

The original work was published in 1686 and represents an early exposition of cosmic pluralism i.e., that the stars are distant suns which may have their own planetary systems and as a result extra-terrestrial life is a possibility. The book is regarded as one of the first texts in the ‘Age of Enlightenment”

The bigger cosmic picture explained by Fontenelle and made beautiful by the talented Nonesuch Press.

$190.00

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Manuscript Letter – Italian Astronomer Giuseppe Armellini – Portorecanati – 19th August 1922

Returning proofs and with suggestions of a mathematical nature based on “derivate ordinaries” … ordinary derivatives. Our calculus a little rusty as also our Italian … appears to be connected to Maxwell’s Laws.

Giuseppe Armellini (1887-1958) was born and died in Rome. He was Professor of Physics and Astronomy at several Italian Universities and Director of the Rome Astronomical Observatory for over 30 years. It was in the year of this letter [1922] that he took up his position at the Observatory of the Campidoglio which in 1936 he transferred to Monte Mario. A fire destroyed the Observatory in 1957 … inconsolable Armellini died the following year.

Armellini published several works … the first, in 1911, based on Newtonian principles. Over his career he developed several theories and principles. He will be forever known for Armellini’s Law {in 1922 also] which determines mathematically the distances of the planets from the sun in our solar system. The key to this understanding is the Armellini constant “D” … which is 1.53 but you must start at minus 2 for Mercury. Curiosities exist in its application … from them Armellini is awarded the honour of having predicted the large asteroid/ minor planet Chiron which was not confirmed until well after his death.

Armellini explained the Solar System – Manuscript letter with Scientific content

$160.00

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The Martyrs of Science, or the Lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe and Kepler – Sir David Brewster – Special Binding – 1856

Published by John Murray, London in 1856. Small octavo 216 pages after preliminaries. Bound extravagantly in full purple Morocco, with rich gilt decoration to both boards and spine, the upper board with the arms of Milton Abbat School … a fine prize. A little rubbed externally, bright throughout.

Sir David Brewster (1781-1868) was a Scottish scientist, inventor, academic. He was Principal at St Andrews and then Edinburgh University. Newtonian devotee and master in optics (hence his interest in the subjects of this book) he discovered Brewster’s Angle and pioneered mineralogical observations with the microscope. Inventor of the stereoscopic camera and kaleidoscope. He has a crater on the Moon named after him … the ultimate accolade.

Galileo, Tycho Brahe and Kepler need less introduction.

Nobody has been closer to the stars

$140.00

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Nucleosynthesis in Massive Stars and Supernovae – Fowler and Hoyle – 1964

One of the key paper by the “Big Bang’ theorists. Published by the University of Chicago Press 1964. Originally published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series No 91, 1964. The Appendix appeared first in the same journal Vol 132 No 3 in 1960.

Bound in the Chicago standard blue cloth covered boards, gilt titles to front and spine. Withdrawn from Long Island University Library (amazing) … 148 pages.

Neutrino processes and pair formation in massive stars and supernovae. Introduction to neutrino processes; density-temperature relation for massive stellar cores before implosion; Gravitational and internal energy relations; Nuclear reactions as the source of energy for neutrino emission by massive starts in the super-nova stage; the alpha process in massive stars; the equilibrium process; mantle and envelope explosion. In the supplements … the implosion- explosion case; the internal structure of super-nova; the californium hypothesis etc

Fred Hoyle, Voyager Hero, the greatest man to not win the big prize.

Nucleosynthesis a complex process we all have a stake in.

$80.00

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The Use of the Globes [Astronomy] – W. Newton – 1854

The Use of the Globes with a Familiar Introduction to the Science of Astronomy illustrated with Numerous Diagrams.

Published by W.E. and F. Newton, Fleet Street 1854.

Scarce despite fourth edition, small octavo, 145 pages plus index. Original green cloth covered binding with decorative blind stamping and delightful gilt design to front, gilt title to spine. Very good condition, albeit gift inscription, ownership and date to top of Chapter 1 and a faded ink blemish on the front board.

Based on a series of lectures given by the author before several scientific Institutions in London. After some introductory matters the book deals with … the Configuration of the Stars and the Constellations; the Solar System (to Uranus or Georgium Sidus as Neptune and Pluto were still to be found and in the case of Pluto lost again); Planetary Motion; Eclipse of the Sun and Moon; the Tides; the Fixed Stars; the Lines and Projections of the Sphere; the Use of Artificial Globes. This is followed by 34 Problems with their solutions often by reference to the artificial globes.

The author William Edward Newton (1718-1879) was the son of John Newton (1759-1844) who initially through the father then son ran London’s most distinguished globe making business … appointed to Queen Victoria.

Astronomical Curiosity by William Newton London’s distinguished Globe Maker

$140.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1887

A Plurality of Worlds – Bernard de Fontenelle – John Glanvill’s Translation – With a Prologue by David Garnett. Beautiful Limited Printing by the Nonesuch Press 1929 – Holden Provenance

Manuscript Letter – Italian Astronomer Giuseppe Armellini – Portorecanati – 19th August 1922

The Martyrs of Science, or the Lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe and Kepler – Sir David Brewster – Special Binding – 1856

Nucleosynthesis in Massive Stars and Supernovae – Fowler and Hoyle – 1964

The Use of the Globes [Astronomy] – W. Newton – 1854

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