MAYER, JOHANN TOBIAS. Tabulae motuum solis et lunae novae et correctae...quibus accedit methodus longitudinum promota. London: William and John Richardson for John Nourse, John Mount and Thomas Page 1770. 4to, 254 x 201mm. (10 x 7 7/8in.), contemporary calf, spine diapered in gilt with red morocco label, joints cracking, corners and edges worn, lower outer corner of lower cover softened and wrinkled by damp. FIRST EDITION, edited by Nevil Maskelyne, text in Latin and English, errata page at end and all of the errata checked and corrected throughout the text in a contemporary hand, advertisement leaf at end, 2 folding engraved plates. Sotheran I, 2934-5.

Details

MAYER, JOHANN TOBIAS. Tabulae motuum solis et lunae novae et correctae...quibus accedit methodus longitudinum promota. London: William and John Richardson for John Nourse, John Mount and Thomas Page 1770. 4to, 254 x 201mm. (10 x 7 7/8in.), contemporary calf, spine diapered in gilt with red morocco label, joints cracking, corners and edges worn, lower outer corner of lower cover softened and wrinkled by damp. FIRST EDITION, edited by Nevil Maskelyne, text in Latin and English, errata page at end and all of the errata checked and corrected throughout the text in a contemporary hand, advertisement leaf at end, 2 folding engraved plates. Sotheran I, 2934-5.

Johann Tobias Mayer (1723-1762), the German astronomer, communicated his lunar and solar tables to the University of Gottingen in 1752, submitting an amended set to the British Government in 1755 which was found to be accurate enough to determine the moon's place to 75" and the longitude at sea to about half a degree. His widow sent an improved set to the British Admiralty which was published in 1770, as above and received a grant of #3000 from the British Government.

Provenance: Marquess of Sligo, engraved Westport House bookplate (via Pickering & Chatto Ltd.) -- Harrison D. Horblit, bookplate.