Construction d'un telescope de réflexion de seize pouces de longeur, faisant l'effet d'une lunette de huit pieds, et de plusieurs autres telescopes, depuis sept pouches jusq'à six pieds & demi, ce dernier faisant l'effet d'une lunette de cent-cinquante pieds; avec la composition de la matière des miroirs, & la manière de polir & de les monter. On y a joint un traité de l'art de faire facilement les grands verres objectifs, les oculaires & des lentilles de différens foyers, avec la construction des lunettes & des microscopes, & leurs principaux usages. Ouvrage utile aux artistes qui voudront s'appliquer à cet art nouveau, & aux curieux qui souhaiteront se construire eux-mêmes un telescope.

[PASSEMANT, Claude Siméon].

Published by Philippe-Nicolas Lottin,, Paris, 1738

About this Item

First edition of this important early treatise on the practical construction of the reflecting telescope. It is precisely contemporary with Robert Smith's System of Opticks (also 1738) and both books share credit as the first manuals devoted to the construction of this instrument. Later editions, with the title Construction d'un telescope par reflexion de Mr. Newton, appeared in 1741 and 1756. The reflecting telescope is generally attributed to Isaac Newton who built one in 1668. However, due to the extreme difficulty of producing mirrors of sufficient quality, his telescope was not widely adopted until the 1720s and 1730s when British instrument makers began to produce finely polished metal mirrors and the reflecting telescope became a practical reality for European astronomers. Passemant, one of the most celebrated instrument makers of his age, later Ingénieur du Roy, built several to the design depicted in the folding plate here. 4to (254 × 185 mm), pp. viii, 132, plus folding engraved plate. Foremargin of folding plate slightly browned. Contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt panelled spine with 5 raised bands, tan morocco label, green silk marker, red edges. An excellent, large copy. [cf. Babson, Newton Collection, 157, (describing the 1741 edition only, now in the Huntington Library) 'Passemant was a Frenchman who lived in Geneva and constructed not only telescopes, but also astronomical clocks and other instruments. This rare book contains many trade secrets'.].

Seller Inventory # 5755

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Construction d'un telescope de réflexion de seize pouces de longeur, faisant l'effet d'une lunette de huit pieds, et de plusieurs autres telescopes, depuis sept pouches jusq'à six pieds & demi, ce dernier faisant l'effet d'une lunette de cent-cinquante pieds; avec la composition de la matière des miroirs, & la manière de polir & de les monter. On y a joint un traité de l'art de faire facilement les grands verres objectifs, les oculaires & des lentilles de différens foyers, avec la construction ...
• Publisher: Philippe-Nicolas Lottin,, Paris
• Publication Date: 1738
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
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