Use of Pendulum Watches for Finding Longitude at Sea

Christian Huygens

Published by Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London, 1669

About this Item

Christian Huygens, (1629-1695). Important and famous bound extract:" Philosophical Transactions" of the London Royal Society No. 47, pp.937-953 from May 10. 1669. Instructions Concerning the Use of Pendulum Watches for Finding Longitude at Sea. The first English edition of the extremely rare original issue in Dutch," Kort Onderwys." An historically important proposal by Christian Huygens to use his invention of the pendulum clock, the most accurate timekeeper of the day, to determine longitude at sea - long a vexing problem for sea-goers. It was over forty years later before John Harrison developed a precision watch/chronometer accurate enough to do the job as detailed in the late best-seller," Longitude," by Dava Sobel. The approach to finding longitude is outlined in this famous paper by one of the great names in scientific history, Christian Huygens. He was one of a select group who received presentation copies of Newton's masterwork, the "Principia," when it appeared in 1687. Huygens was, literally, regarded as "the Newton of the continent." This extract, No. 47, is accompanied by Nos. 48, 59, and 58 (misc. unrelated topics) from the larger bound volume of Transactions. These extracts are beautifully bound in 3/4 leather over marbled boards with gilt tooling on the spine. From the famed science collection of Harrison Horblitt with his library label on the front pastedown. The extract and binding are fine and very attractive.

Seller Inventory # 000031

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Use of Pendulum Watches for Finding Longitude at Sea
• Publisher: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London
• Publication Date: 1669
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Near Fine