Lot 90: EDMOND HALLEY (1656-1742)

Catalogue des estoilles australes, in Latin with French translation [by Jean Baptiste van Luer]. Paris: J.-B. Coignard, 1679. 12° (137 x 78mm). Woodcut initials, folding engraved plate with 4 figures tipped inside rear board. Contemporary calf, gilt spine, red sprinkled edges (some neat repairs). Provenance: A.J.P.C. Duc de Lachapelle (1765-1814; ex lib. of his observatory at Montauban, 1785, annotated with astronomical observations).

FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH, second in Latin, published the same year as the first edition. It records Halley's observations made on the island of St. Helena, where he discovered a star cluster in Centaurus. It is 'the first astrometric catalogue with the new telescopic instruments' (Cook, Halley, p.413); on the basis of its publication at London, Halley was elected member of the Royal Society. As stated in the preface, Halley's catalogue was published just as the last page of a star catalogue by Auguste Royer came off the press (Cartes du ciel, Paris: Coignard, 1679) and so it was decided to print Halley's work in French translation too. Despite the editor's reference to it being 'comme une seconde partie au nostre', the two works are independent publications and survive more often individually than joint. Cook (Halley pp. 78 and 463) identifies the translator as van Luer, and calls for the planisphere to accompany the text; it is not present here, nor in the Macclesfield, Royal Astronomical Society, British Library, or the two Paris Observatory copies. Furthermore, the engraved plate with 4 figures -- present here -- is lacking in all those noted above except a British Library copy. The volume's former owner, Duc de Lachapelle, was a serious amateur astronomer. He built his own observatory at Montauban and some of his astronomical observations were published in Connaisance des temps; he was elected an associate member of the Académie des sciences in 1796. Christie's is grateful to Françoise Launay for her assistance in investigating this edition and copies in France.

No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.