MOREAU DE MAUPERTUIS, Pierre Louis La figure de la terre, déterminée par les observations de Messieurs de Maupertuis, Clairant, Camus, le Monnier, de l’Académie Royale des Sciences, & de M. l’Abbé Outhier (...) Accompagnés de M. Celsius...
Estimation :
250 / 400
Adjudication :
340 €
Description
(...) faites par ordre du Roy au cercle polaire. 1739 s.n., lge 8vo, cont. mottled calf (sl. rubbed), gilt spine on 5 raised bands, red polished edges, marbled endpapers, xxiv-[4]-208 pp. (paper age-toned). Very good copy.
Rare ed. (1st 1738) of the account by Maupertuis (1698-1759) of the expedition to the North Pole. Ill. with a folding engraved map and numerous woodcut diagrams. “In the Principia Newton had predicted that the earth’s shape was that formed by the rotation of an ellipse round its minor axis: the Cassinis disagreed and said it was the figure formed by the rotation of the ellipse round its major axis. It was to settle this matter that the two great French expeditions, led by Maupertuis to measure the degree near the pole, and by Bouguer and La Condamine at the equator, were planned. Maupertuis was first back, and even before the results from Peru were known his measurements, compared with the earlier measurement of Picard, were enough to confirm Newton’s prediction. Maupertuis’ well written account of his hair-raising adventures in Northern Lapland, established his literary and scientific reputation.” (Sophia). Name on front flyleaf "J.G. Smolderen".
Rare ed. (1st 1738) of the account by Maupertuis (1698-1759) of the expedition to the North Pole. Ill. with a folding engraved map and numerous woodcut diagrams. “In the Principia Newton had predicted that the earth’s shape was that formed by the rotation of an ellipse round its minor axis: the Cassinis disagreed and said it was the figure formed by the rotation of the ellipse round its major axis. It was to settle this matter that the two great French expeditions, led by Maupertuis to measure the degree near the pole, and by Bouguer and La Condamine at the equator, were planned. Maupertuis was first back, and even before the results from Peru were known his measurements, compared with the earlier measurement of Picard, were enough to confirm Newton’s prediction. Maupertuis’ well written account of his hair-raising adventures in Northern Lapland, established his literary and scientific reputation.” (Sophia). Name on front flyleaf "J.G. Smolderen".
