Description et usage du mécanisme uranographique, contenant un abrégé élémentaire de cosmographie.

£4,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

with royal provenance an interesting and rare work on astronomy - dedicated to Louis XVIII. Charles Rouy's 'mechanism of uranography' presents a moving model of the universe and includes the asteroids Vesta, Ceres and Pallas. This unique edition was reserved for subscribers, of which the King and his family were top of the list. The present copy belonged to Madame Royale, Marie-Thérèse of France. The eldest child of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, she was the only one to reach adulthood. After marrying her cousin Louis-Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, Charles X became her father-in-law (as well as her uncle) and she became the Dauphine of France. She spent much of her life in exile after the Revolution and the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy in 1830. Rare. WorldCat locates only two copies in public libraries. First edition; 8vo (20 x 12 cm); one large folding plate; bound in contemporary red morocco, covers with gilt coat of arms to the centre and detailed vine borders, spine gilt ruled and title, ex-libris and small French customs sticker to front free endpaper, green ribbon marker, blue silk endpapers, minor foxing throughout, all edges gilt, a near-fine copy; [2] 87pp.

• Binding: Hardcover

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