Cosmographie élémentaire, divisée en parties astronomique et géographique
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- SIGNED
- Paris , 1781
Paris, 1781. FIRST EDITION. 9 folding engraved plates (7 in contemporary hand color). Contemporary mottled calf, spine and label gilt, red edges, green silk marker. An excellent copy. First edition of this astronomical and geographical manual for children. Divided into two parts, the first opens with a mathematical guide for calculating sizes and distances in space, then focuses on universal astronomy, including celestial bodies, planetary movements, phenomena, and their atmospheric effects. It concludes with a discussion of astronomic understanding in different civilizations and cultures.
The second part of the book comprises world geography continent by continent, with information about governments, regions, history, people, and laws. The chapter on America describes the 13 original states, Louisiana territory, Mexico, and Canada, accompanied by a map that denotes their boundaries. The author includes narratives of the explorers who “discovered” various lands, such as Ponce de Leon, William Penn, James Cook, John Byron, and others. The first two plates show astronomical distances and calculations, and the rest are maps.
Edme Mentelle (1730-1815) was a French geographer and teacher to the royal household. He wrote this book for the education of the royal children, but later published several additional geography textbooks for general use.
Cioranescu 44344.
The second part of the book comprises world geography continent by continent, with information about governments, regions, history, people, and laws. The chapter on America describes the 13 original states, Louisiana territory, Mexico, and Canada, accompanied by a map that denotes their boundaries. The author includes narratives of the explorers who “discovered” various lands, such as Ponce de Leon, William Penn, James Cook, John Byron, and others. The first two plates show astronomical distances and calculations, and the rest are maps.
Edme Mentelle (1730-1815) was a French geographer and teacher to the royal household. He wrote this book for the education of the royal children, but later published several additional geography textbooks for general use.
Cioranescu 44344.