Anon

1780 · ref. EXP2-F-7 — Anon: Anon c1780. Leather. Good. 9" by 7". Anon. A unique handwritten volume covering predominantly Astronomy and the Use of Globes. Handwritten in a neat and legible hand across 400 pages numbered 1-90 and 1-300. Occasionally with blank page breaks but continuous numbering. An interesting specimen this volume contains exercises diagrams and notes on science geography and astronomy. Primarily focusing on the Use of Globes it contains four diagrams of celestial movements and pages of charts and lists relating to the planets and stars. Written in French with one passage in English describing the fixed stars of the Lion's Tale and Virgin's Spike. The first 90 pages are concerned with broader geography and written in a question and answer style. The second section contains explanations on the use of Globes both terrestrial and celestial and the information that can be gleaned from a practical application of this knowledge. Similar in style to 'Introduction to the Use of Globes' by W Field the text follows an instructive pattern whereby the information is transcribed and then applied to a series of problems. The author seems to have been working through Thomas Hood's 'The Use of both the Globes Celestial and Terrestrial' and making a practical collection of notes for personal or educational use. One section is titled 'Responses aux Questions de ''appendix qui est a la suite de l'introduction a l'usage des Globes par mr Molineux' that is 'responses to questions in the appendix to the introduction of the use of Globes by Molyneux'. Emery Molyneux was an English Elizabethan maker of Globes and his terrestrial and celestial globes were the first to be made in England. Though Molyneux published his own treatise on Globes entitled 'The Globes Celestial and Terrestrial Set Forth in Plano' it has now been lost. In the same year Thomas Hood published 'The Use of Both the Globes' which referenced Molyneux's works. Because of this we believe it is Hood's work to which the author of this manuscript is referring. The work has been dated based on the predictions of celestial movements made in the text up to the year 1800. In a full mottled calf binding wiith gilt detailing. Externally worn with loss to leather at extremities and spine. Worn spine label reading 'usage de globes'. Front pastedown with ridge as quirk of binding. Marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Personal label to front pastedown. Internally generally firmly bound. Approx 100 smaller pages bound in to front and 304 full sized pages follwoing 300 numbered. 2 pages loosening to rear block. Pages bright generally clean with marginal age toning and handling marks. Occasional scattered spots. Creasing to foredge. Good Anon hardcover