24 pp. of text and 12 fine steel-engraved colored plates, many with tissue paper backing to allow light to pass through. Quarto (12 x 9 1/2 inches). Original green publisher's cloth with gilt lettering, plates loose as issued. Minor stains to boards, spine professionally rebacked, some light toning, scattered staining or spotting to a few pages, handwritten ink inscription to title page which has bled through slightly to page underneath, overall very good. Hall, Würteemberg/Bruxelles: W. Nitzschke/Kiessling et Compagnie, 1862.

The brief booklet of text accompanies the twelve engraved plates, with full explanatory text for eleven of the twelve. The twelfth plate has a full explanation on the verso of the cardstock. Eight of the twelve engraved plates in this volume are backed with tissue paper, either full sheets or small appropriately-sized pieces, so that the plates can be held up to the light and light can pass through. Many of the plates display colorful imagery.

The twelve plates are titled as follows:
I. L'Univers ou notre monde stellaire
II. Planisphère Céleste contenant les étoiles visibles toute l'année
III. Système Solaire, Orbites des Planètes d'après les autorités les plus récentes
IV. Tableau Comparatif de la Grandeur des Planétes
V. Le Soleil et ses principaux phénomènes
VI. La Lune vue à travers le telescope
VII. Tableau transparent des phases de la Lune
VIII. Éclipses
IX. Vicissitudes des Saisons, Signes du Zodiaque
X. La Terre et Son Atmosphère
XI. Comètes et Aérolithes
XII. Dessins des Phénoménes Variés Météorologiques de l'Atmosphère

The Princeton University Library wrote of this work, "You will want to hold the plates in your hand to fully appreciate the wonder of the design, because there are sensory experiences a digital surrogate is not yet capable of delivering through an electronic screen...In half of the plates of Astronomie Populaire, the stars, the Sun, the Moon, and other planets are hollowed out or partially so, with colored tissue sheets mounted to the versos of the cards. When you hold up a plate like that against the light, you find yourself suddenly gazing at illuminated celestial bodies. Even the most saturated color splashed on solid paper cannot compete with the amazing glow, which changes intensity like real stars do, as you will no doubt be tempted to play with the position of the plates relative to the light source, trying to achieve the sublime view...Mostly impressively, first magnitude stars received special treatment, with holes punched in the elegant shape of....stars." ("Eclipses Made Easy to the Minds and Capacity of the Young", Minjie Chen, Cotsen Children's Library, Princeton University, August 19, 2017)

Scarce institutionally.

Book ID: 53711

Price: $2,750.00