Two Lectures on the Parallax and Distance of the Sun as deductible from The Transit of Venus
- 47, [1, blank] pp. Half-title. 8vo
- Boston: Edes & Gill, 1769
Boston: Edes & Gill, 1769. First edition. 47, [1, blank] pp. Half-title. 8vo. Modern green morocco. Top of half title clipped without loss to text, minor toning and staining. First edition. 47, [1, blank] pp. Half-title. 8vo. An early work of American astronomy, being results and analysis of John Winthrop's journey to Newfoundland and observations on the transit of Venus. The Transit of Venus in 1761 and 1769, not visible through much of Europe, afforded the American colonies their first real opportunity for scientific contribution. The combined efforts of David West, David Rittenhouse and John Winthrop marked the arrival of American science on the world stage. Winthrop's expedition was funded by the legislature of Massachusetts Bay, in what must be among the first instances of public support of science in North America.
The efforts to view the transit of Venus across the surface of the sun was one of the first great international scientific efforts. David Rittenhouse in Philadelphia also undertook a North American observation, but English and French expeditions went as far as the Pacific Ocean to obtain sightings, and the results allowed the most accurate calculation of the size of the earth up to that time.
"Perhaps [Winthrop's] most important astronomical work was concerned with the two transits of Venus in 1761 and 1769, which engaged astronomers all over the world. For the 1761 transit Winthrop organized an expedition from Harvard to St. John's Newfoundland, which provided material for one of his most important papers. In 1769 he published the results of further work in Two Lectures ..." (Dictionary of Scientific Biography).
Both of Winthrop's works are rare. Although well represented among institutions, the work is scarce on the market. Evans 11536; ESTC W28422; Sabin 104859
The efforts to view the transit of Venus across the surface of the sun was one of the first great international scientific efforts. David Rittenhouse in Philadelphia also undertook a North American observation, but English and French expeditions went as far as the Pacific Ocean to obtain sightings, and the results allowed the most accurate calculation of the size of the earth up to that time.
"Perhaps [Winthrop's] most important astronomical work was concerned with the two transits of Venus in 1761 and 1769, which engaged astronomers all over the world. For the 1761 transit Winthrop organized an expedition from Harvard to St. John's Newfoundland, which provided material for one of his most important papers. In 1769 he published the results of further work in Two Lectures ..." (Dictionary of Scientific Biography).
Both of Winthrop's works are rare. Although well represented among institutions, the work is scarce on the market. Evans 11536; ESTC W28422; Sabin 104859