ASTRONOMY, AMERICAN - John VOSE (1766-1840). A System of Astronomy, Concord [New Hampshire], 1827, 8vo, contemporary calf-backed boards. FIRST EDITION. RARE. With 3 other books of related interest. (4)

ASTRONOMY, AMERICAN - John VOSE (1766-1840).  A System of Astronomy, on the Principles of Copernicus: Containing, Besides the Usual Astronomical Calculations, A Catalogue of Eclipses Visible in the United States during the Present Century, and the Tables Necessary for Calculating Eclipses and other Computations on the Motion of the Celestial Bodies; Accompanied with Plates. Concord [New Hampshire]: "Published by Jacob B. Moore," 1827. 8vo (219 x 130mm). Tables (without plates, as usual [see note], variable browning and spotting throughout, a few leaves creased). Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, the spine with a black morocco lettering-piece (heavily rubbed). Provenance: Sigurd von Numers (modern signature on the front free endpaper; see note below); some old pencil annotation to the last leaf of the index. FIRST EDITION. The title page refers to the author as "Principal of the Pembroke Academy, New-Hampshire", an institution which was founded as a private school in 1818 principally to prepare students for entry to nearby Dartmouth College - of which the author was an alumnus - and which continues to exist to this day as a "public school" (in the American sense). We have been unable to trace a single copy of this book containing the "plates" mentioned in the title. They may have been issued separately, or never issued at all; or "plates" may refer, somewhat misleadingly, to the numerous full-page letterpress "Astronomical Tables" at the end of the work. RARE. With 3 other books of related interest, all printed in the United States, namely John H. Wilkins' Elements of Astronomy, Illustrated with Plates, for the Use of Schools and Academies, with Questions ... Stereotype Edition (Boston [Mass.], "Published by Hilliard, Gray and Co.", 1835, 8vo, folding engraved frontispiece, 4 woodcut plates, 9 engraved plates at the end, one signature starting, contemporary calf-backed marbled boards), A. D. Bache's A Treatise on Optics ... A New Edition (Philadelphia, "Lea & Blanchard", 1845, 8vo, wood-engraved illustrations and diagrams, one leaf detached, contemporary calf-backed cloth boards, joints split) and Thomas Dick's The Telescope and Microscope (Philadelphia, "American Sunday-School Union", [c.1851], 8vo, wood-engraved illustrations, contemporary calf-backed boards). (4) 

For further books on astronomy from the collection of Sigurd von Numers please see lots 318, 319, 323, 346, 351, 365, 369, 389 and 403. Sigurd Valdemar von Numers (1903-83) was a Finnish diplomat and a Doctor of Law. He was awarded the title of Consul General in 1944.