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Ferguson, James (1710--1776)
[Astronomy explained. 1756]
Astronomy explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's principles, and made easy to those who have not studied mathematics. By James Ferguson.
London (Place), printed for, and sold by the author,, 1756.
[8], 267, [9] p., engr. frontis., XIII fold. pl. : tables ; 26.1 cm. (4º)

First edition. This was the first major book of the self-taught Scottish astronomer and polymath James Ferguson, and went through eleven further editions by the end of the century. ESTC t18586.

Copy Notes Bought from Thomas Boone for 5s., 24 April 1806. (Spiers Box). With Boone's price and hieroglyph in pencil on second front free-endpaper. Verso of first front free-endpaper inscribed in ink 6 and HHe. The Soane bookplate conceals evidence of removal of a former bookplate.

Binding C18th sponged 'catspaw' calf, gilt roll-tooled borders, gilt-tooled spine compartments with small coronets, olive morocco spine-labels, the upper lettered 'Ferguso Astrono' and the lower with gilt-tooled armorial stamp of John Petty Fitzmaurice, 1st Earl of Shelburne, featuring an earl's coronet over a foliate 'S' within a palm wreath (stamp 2). Thanks to Philip Oldfield for the identification of this stamp.

Reference Number 503

Additional Names Thomas Boone; Newton, Sir Isaac (1642--1727). Opticks; Fitzmaurice, John Petty, 1st Earl of Shelburne (1706--1761)


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