38 - LE MONNIER (P. Ch.).

LE MONNIER (P. Ch.). New Zodiac, reduced to the year 1755. Including other stars, whose latitudes extend up to 10 degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which may be used to measure their distances from the disk of the Moon or from the planets. Paris, Printing Office of the Department of the Navy, 1773. 2 parts in 1 in-8 volume, marbled calfskin, decorated ribbed spine. Title page and frontispiece (table of longitudes and latitudes of all fixed zodiacal stars based on Mr. Flamsteed’s observations, 2 star charts [of the Pleiades and the Hyades], 1 folio of preface, 31 engraved tables with 12 vignettes and 1 plate. Second edition of this work on celestial cartography. It presents the fixed stars of the zodiac and those whose latitude extends up to 10 degrees north and south of the plane of the ecliptic. These astronomical data were primarily used by calculators and navigators to accurately measure the distances of celestial bodies from the disk of the Moon or the planets (particularly for determining longitude at sea). Le Monnier was Louis XV’s favorite astronomer; the king had an observatory built for him and had all his books printed by the Royal Printing Office. He is credited with numerous discoveries, such as the existence of electricity in its natural state in the atmosphere, the calculation of the height of the North Pole in Paris, and the obliquity of the ecliptic… But above all, he is credited with having perfected maritime navigation to the highest degree. Lalande (Astronomical Bibliography) notes that the “large map of the Zodiac” mentioned in the preface was published separately by Dheulland and was never included in the book. A fine copy.