The Life of Roger Langdon told by Himself With Additions by his Daughter Ellen

This is the first edition published in 1909 of the autobiography of Roger Langdon (1825-94), a country station-master and amateur astronomer. Langdon's life is a remarkable story of self-education and determination: he started work as a farmer's boy at the age of eight, ran away from the home to work for a shipowner in Jersey at fourteen, and was then employed by a blacksmith, canvas manufacturers, and a solicitor's runner before finding work with the Great Western Railway. Langdon was from an early age interested in astronomy, and eventually constructed four telescopes and his own observatory. He developed his own method for photographing the moon and the transit of Venus, and presented a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society, which is included in the appendices. Langdon died before completing his autobiography, and the latter chapters on his scientific achievements and final years were completed by his daughter Ellen. 104p The book is VG condition with bright red boards and spine with a gilt and grey motif of an early railway engine with bright gilt titles on the front board and spine. No fading .There is some browning of the endpapers and edges but otherwise clean and tight. In very collectable or presentable condition. See scans.…