Description: This is a rare copy in outstanding condition of Captain William Henry Smyth's Cycle of Celestial Objects, for the Use of Naval, Military, and Private Astronomers. Volume 1: Prolegomena. See below for more information on this outstanding man and his enduring work. Shipping includes insurance and signature confirmation on delivery. Captain William Henry Smyth was a British Royal Navy Officer In the early 1800s, he spent time in the Napoleonic Wars and surveying the coastline of Sicily. While in Sicily he visited Italian astronomer Guiseppe Piazzi’s observatory, which sparked his own interest in astronomy. He built his own observatory and spent over a decade observing the skies. The result was a two volume work, which won him a Gold Medal from the Royal Astronomical society. (This listing is for Volume I only). Returning to England and settling at Bedford, in 1825 he fitted out a private observatory equipped with a 5.9-inch refractor telescope at his home at 6 The Crescent. He used this instrument to observe a variety of deep sky objects over the course of the 1830s, including double stars, star clusters and nebulae. He published his observations in 1844 in the Cycle of Celestial Objects, which earned him the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1845 and also the presidency of the society. The first volume of this work was on general astronomy. It was reprinted in 1986 with a foreword stating What makes it so special is that it is the first true celestial Baedeker and not just another "cold" catalogue of mere numbers and data. Like the original Baedeker travel guidebooks of the last century, this work is full of colorful commentary on the highlights of the heavenly scene and heavily influenced several subsequent works of its type, even to the present day. It is in the descriptive material that Smyth is a delight. He not only describes what the user of a small telescope will see, but also includes much fascinating astronomical, mythological, and historical lore. Many of these descriptions are especially valuable for the novice and user of small telescopes of a size similar to Smyth's. We will ALWAYS COMBINE SHIPPING on items that do not ship for free. We will issue a refund for any excess shipping charges AUTOMATICALLY AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER the actual shipping cost is determined and the label is printed. Please purchase multiple items as close to the same time as possible; we ship packages six days a week and always on the same day as the purchase whenever possible. Books will be packaged with great care and ship via USPS Media Mail. If you are ordering from Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico a $30.00 surcharge MAY or MAY NOT apply. If the surcharge is not added to the price we are charged for shipping, the $30.00, or any portion of the $30.00 not charged to us will be refunded. Thank you. Please take a look at the many other comics we have listed, there's always a great variety, and we often have related issues, and a good number of complete collections, as well as many Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Modern Age comics. We also have thousands of magazines, zines, pulps, and science fiction & fantasy paperbacks that we don't have listed yet, so if you are seeking something in particular, contact us, as there is a decent chance we'll have it. We ship internationally through ebay's Global Shipping Program. Return policyWe take great care in giving accurate and detailed descriptions of our books and comics, and always package them safely and securely. Please take a good look at the photos and contact us if you have any questions before purchasing or bidding. We hope you have no cause to return an item, but if you do we offer 30 day returns. Standard ebay return policies are followed. FeedbackIf you are happy with your purchase and the service, please leave positive feedback, and we will reciprocate right away.If you are not happy for any reason, please contact us at your earliest convenience. Thank you!
Price: 900 USD
Location: West Hartford, Connecticut
End Time: 2024-08-13T00:31:58.000Z
Shipping Cost: 25 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Place of Publication: London
Language: English
Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Illustrated
Signed: No
Author: Captain William Henry
Publisher: John W. Parker
Topic: Astronomy
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Subject: Astronomy
Year Printed: 1844
