Astronomy and Mathematics
BALL‚ Sir Robert Stawell. 9776
Autograph Letter Signed‚ thanking his correspondent for the reminder about the payment of premiums. A good one page example 7 x 4½ inches. Observatory‚ Cambridge‚ 16 June 1902. Sir Robert Stawell Ball (1840-1913)‚ Irish astronomer and mathematician‚ Royal Astronomer of Ireland.
Price : £45.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ thanking his correspondent for the reminder about the payment of premiums. A good one page example 7 x 4½ inches. Observatory‚ Cambridge‚ 16 June 1902. Sir Robert Stawell Ball (1840-1913)‚ Irish astronomer and mathematician‚ Royal Astronomer of Ireland. Price : £45.00
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CHEVALLIER‚ Temple. 1341
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Dr. Robert Cream (?)‚ discussing in detail his own plans for the summer‚ including a few weeks on the continent. 3 pp. 4 x 6 inches. Esh‚ near Durham‚ 19 July 1853. Temple Chevallier (1794-1873)‚ astronomer and professor at Durham.
Price : £45.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Dr. Robert Cream (?)‚ discussing in detail his own plans for the summer‚ including a few weeks on the continent. 3 pp. 4 x 6 inches. Esh‚ near Durham‚ 19 July 1853. Temple Chevallier (1794-1873)‚ astronomer and professor at Durham. Price : £45.00
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CULLIMORE‚ Isaac. 9942
Autograph Letter Signed‚ thanking his correspondent “for the very handsome Notice which you have taken of Mr Calthrop’s little Poem in Saturday’s Gazette”. 1 page 8 x 8 inches‚ lithographed pictorial heading of Egyptian hieroglyphics‚ minor marginal defects‚ one corner torn away‚ traces of mounting. 14 Rathbone Place‚ 29 December 1840. Isaac Cullimore (1791-1852)‚ Egyptologist‚ and one of the first orientalists to use astronomy to fix important dates in ancient history.
Price : £65.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ thanking his correspondent “for the very handsome Notice which you have taken of Mr Calthrop’s little Poem in Saturday’s Gazette”. 1 page 8 x 8 inches‚ lithographed pictorial heading of Egyptian hieroglyphics‚ minor marginal defects‚ one corner torn away‚ traces of mounting. 14 Rathbone Place‚ 29 December 1840. Isaac Cullimore (1791-1852)‚ Egyptologist‚ and one of the first orientalists to use astronomy to fix important dates in ancient history. Price : £65.00
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DAVIES‚ Thomas Stephens. 10994
A lengthy Autograph Letter Signed‚ addressed ‘My dear Sir’‚ telling a story about an unexpected visitor at dinner‚ discussing arrangements to meet‚ visits‚ and much else. 4 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. Wednesday evening‚ undated. Thomas Stephens Davies (1794?–1851)‚ mathematician. Davies's principal area of research was geometry.Among the numerous subjects which engaged his attention were the properties of the trapezium‚ Pascal's hexagramme mystique‚ Brianchon's theorem‚ symmetrical properties of plane triangles‚ the geometry of three dimensions‚ and stereographic projection. In 1834 Davies was appointed one of the mathematical masters in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. While there‚ he helped to publish several useful textbooks for the use of its students.
Price : £35.00
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A lengthy Autograph Letter Signed‚ addressed ‘My dear Sir’‚ telling a story about an unexpected visitor at dinner‚ discussing arrangements to meet‚ visits‚ and much else. 4 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. Wednesday evening‚ undated. Thomas Stephens Davies (1794?–1851)‚ mathematician. Davies's principal area of research was geometry.Among the numerous subjects which engaged his attention were the properties of the trapezium‚ Pascal's hexagramme mystique‚ Brianchon's theorem‚ symmetrical properties of plane triangles‚ the geometry of three dimensions‚ and stereographic projection. In 1834 Davies was appointed one of the mathematical masters in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. While there‚ he helped to publish several useful textbooks for the use of its students. Price : £35.00
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DE LA RUE‚ Warren. 11393
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Mr. Cooke‚ regretting De la Rue and his wife can not accept Cooke’s invitation‚ but they are setting out soon for Denmark‚ Sweden and Norway. 2 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 73 Portland Place‚ 4 August 1879. Warren de la Rue (1815–1889)‚ chemist and astronomer‚ invented the first envelope-making machine (1851); took lunar photographs; devised heliograph for photographing the sun daily (1858). By photographs of the eclipse of the sun in Spain‚ De La Rue proved that the prominences observed during eclipses belong to the sun (1860).
Price : £65.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Mr. Cooke‚ regretting De la Rue and his wife can not accept Cooke’s invitation‚ but they are setting out soon for Denmark‚ Sweden and Norway. 2 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 73 Portland Place‚ 4 August 1879. Warren de la Rue (1815–1889)‚ chemist and astronomer‚ invented the first envelope-making machine (1851); took lunar photographs; devised heliograph for photographing the sun daily (1858). By photographs of the eclipse of the sun in Spain‚ De La Rue proved that the prominences observed during eclipses belong to the sun (1860). Price : £65.00
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GREGORY‚ Olinthus Gilbert. 9848
Autograph Letter Signed ‘Olinthus Gregory’‚ to R.H.Marten‚ discussing the Thames Tunnel‚ and recommending that “it would be highly expedient to allow Mr.V [Vignoles] to make the experiment he proposes”. Together with an autograph note in the third person by Charles Blacker Vignoles requesting Marten to peruse “the enclosed letter from Dr.Gregory before proceeding to open the General Meeting of the Thames Tunnel Proprietors”. 2 pp. & 1 p. remains of guard and three small pieces of tape where formerly mounted‚ otherwise in good condition. Woolwich‚ 27 April 1829. Gregory writes: “Having a high estimate of Mr.Brunell’s talents‚ and much esteem for his personal character‚ I would be very reluctant to do anything which he might regard as unfriendly...” Olinthus Gilbert Gregory (1774-1841)‚ mathematician‚ author of text books on mathematics‚ mechanics and astronomy. Charles Blacker Vignoles (1793-1875)‚ engineer‚ surveyed South Carolina and adjoining states‚ published ‘Observations on the Floridas’ (1823). On 12 January 1828 work on the Thames Tunnel was halted by flooding and not resumed for seven years.
Price : £100.00
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Autograph Letter Signed ‘Olinthus Gregory’‚ to R.H.Marten‚ discussing the Thames Tunnel‚ and recommending that “it would be highly expedient to allow Mr.V [Vignoles] to make the experiment he proposes”. Together with an autograph note in the third person by Charles Blacker Vignoles requesting Marten to peruse “the enclosed letter from Dr.Gregory before proceeding to open the General Meeting of the Thames Tunnel Proprietors”. 2 pp. & 1 p. remains of guard and three small pieces of tape where formerly mounted‚ otherwise in good condition. Woolwich‚ 27 April 1829. Gregory writes: “Having a high estimate of Mr.Brunell’s talents‚ and much esteem for his personal character‚ I would be very reluctant to do anything which he might regard as unfriendly...” Olinthus Gilbert Gregory (1774-1841)‚ mathematician‚ author of text books on mathematics‚ mechanics and astronomy. Charles Blacker Vignoles (1793-1875)‚ engineer‚ surveyed South Carolina and adjoining states‚ published ‘Observations on the Floridas’ (1823). On 12 January 1828 work on the Thames Tunnel was halted by flooding and not resumed for seven years. Price : £100.00
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LANGLEY‚ Samuel Pierpoint. 9357
Typed Letter Signed ‘S.P.Langley’‚ to Captain E.L.Zalinski at The Century Association‚ discussing the price of bottles of Sake. 2 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ in fine condition‚ engraved vignette of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution‚ Washington‚ 12 June 1900. Samuel Pierpoint Langley (1834-1906)‚ American astronomer and aviation pioneer‚ founder of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. “Thank you for your note about the Sake. If you mean that the price is Four dollars a dozen‚ it is certainly cheap. If you mean Four dollars a bottle‚ that is a great more than I care to give‚ though the best Sake is never dear. In the latter case‚ two bottles of each would be sufficient...”
Price : £275.00
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Typed Letter Signed ‘S.P.Langley’‚ to Captain E.L.Zalinski at The Century Association‚ discussing the price of bottles of Sake. 2 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ in fine condition‚ engraved vignette of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution‚ Washington‚ 12 June 1900. Samuel Pierpoint Langley (1834-1906)‚ American astronomer and aviation pioneer‚ founder of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. “Thank you for your note about the Sake. If you mean that the price is Four dollars a dozen‚ it is certainly cheap. If you mean Four dollars a bottle‚ that is a great more than I care to give‚ though the best Sake is never dear. In the latter case‚ two bottles of each would be sufficient...” Price : £275.00
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MILICH‚ Jacob. 11112
Autograph Inscription of three lines in his hand‚ as Jacobus Milichius‚ probably extracted from a Liber Amicorum. 2 x 5¾ inches‚ laid down on an old album page (with part of an old folder from a German auction). Dated 1538. Liber Amicorum: ‘book of friends’‚ an early form of autograph book‚ originating in Germany. Jacob Milich (1501-1559)‚ was a German mathematician‚ physician and astronomer. He was born in Freiburg im Breisgau‚ where he received his education starting in 1513. He taught at Wittenberg‚ where he received an M.D. degree and became a professor of mathematics. His most important student there was Erasmus Reinhold. Among his works was a 1535 commentary on the second book of Pliny the Elder. He became Dean of the Wittenberg university's philosophical and medical branches‚ then served as Rector of the school on several occasions. The crater Milichius on the Moon is named after him.
Price : £300.00
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Autograph Inscription of three lines in his hand‚ as Jacobus Milichius‚ probably extracted from a Liber Amicorum. 2 x 5¾ inches‚ laid down on an old album page (with part of an old folder from a German auction). Dated 1538. Liber Amicorum: ‘book of friends’‚ an early form of autograph book‚ originating in Germany. Jacob Milich (1501-1559)‚ was a German mathematician‚ physician and astronomer. He was born in Freiburg im Breisgau‚ where he received his education starting in 1513. He taught at Wittenberg‚ where he received an M.D. degree and became a professor of mathematics. His most important student there was Erasmus Reinhold. Among his works was a 1535 commentary on the second book of Pliny the Elder. He became Dean of the Wittenberg university's philosophical and medical branches‚ then served as Rector of the school on several occasions. The crater Milichius on the Moon is named after him. Price : £300.00
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SIMSON‚ Robert. 7402
Autograph Note Signed ‘Rob:Simson Gl:Univ’‚ providing details of payments to Dr.William’s Exhibitioners‚ and attesting that the three named exhibitioners “have behaved regularly and as became students during the Sessions that commences in October last”. 9 x 7½ inches‚ tipped on to an album page‚ with tears in folds and other minor defects. Glasgow‚ 20 May 1760. Robert Simson (1687–1768)‚ mathematician and Professor of Mathematics at Glasgow University from 1712 to 1761. His most influential work was probably his definitive edition of Euclid's Elements‚ which he published in 1756. Both his Euclid and his Conic Sections ran through many editions and were translated into several languages. In spite of his obsession with Greek geometry Simson was familiar with contemporary mathematics and included the elements of fluxionary calculus in his courses. [DNB]
Price : £150.00
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Autograph Note Signed ‘Rob:Simson Gl:Univ’‚ providing details of payments to Dr.William’s Exhibitioners‚ and attesting that the three named exhibitioners “have behaved regularly and as became students during the Sessions that commences in October last”. 9 x 7½ inches‚ tipped on to an album page‚ with tears in folds and other minor defects. Glasgow‚ 20 May 1760. Robert Simson (1687–1768)‚ mathematician and Professor of Mathematics at Glasgow University from 1712 to 1761. His most influential work was probably his definitive edition of Euclid's Elements‚ which he published in 1756. Both his Euclid and his Conic Sections ran through many editions and were translated into several languages. In spite of his obsession with Greek geometry Simson was familiar with contemporary mathematics and included the elements of fluxionary calculus in his courses. [DNB] Price : £150.00
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SMITH‚ Archibald. 10606
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Dr. Gray‚ thanking him for the papers he has sent. 1 page 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 14 Ashley Place‚ 4 April 1856. Archibald Smith (1813-1872)‚ mathematician‚ co-founder of the Cambridge Mathematical Journal (1837)‚ and co-author of the Admiralty manual on the Deviation of the Compass caused by the Iron in a Ship. F.R.S. 1856‚ Gold Medallist 1865.
Price : £45.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Dr. Gray‚ thanking him for the papers he has sent. 1 page 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 14 Ashley Place‚ 4 April 1856. Archibald Smith (1813-1872)‚ mathematician‚ co-founder of the Cambridge Mathematical Journal (1837)‚ and co-author of the Admiralty manual on the Deviation of the Compass caused by the Iron in a Ship. F.R.S. 1856‚ Gold Medallist 1865. Price : £45.00
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VINCE‚ Samuel. 4045
Autograph Letter Signed [to Dr.Charles Hutton]‚ discussing the illustrations in his forthcoming book of Lectures‚ asking for the name of the engraver of “your wooden mathematical Figures‚ and whether such Figures are more expensive than Copper Plate ones”‚ and thanking him for his help with the errata. 1 page 9 x 7½ inches‚ with an annotation ‘addressed to Dr.Charles Hutton‚ and given by him to William Upcott’. In good condition. Cambridge‚ 17 November 1793. “I am preparing a complete course of Lectures in Mathematics & Philosophy for the Use of the Students of the University.” Samuel Vince (1749-1821)‚ mathematician and astronomer‚ author of A Complete System of Astronomy [3 vols.‚ 1797-1808] and many other works‚ has been described as one of the last representatives of the English synthetical school. From 1796 Vince was Plumian Professor of astronomy and experimental philosophy at Cambridge. His lectures‚ the subject of this letter‚ were published in four volumes entitled The Principles of Mathematical and Natural Philosophy (1793-99)‚ his particular subjects being fluxions‚ hydrostatics and astronomy. His Treatise on Practical Astronomy (Cambridge 1790) explained the constructions and use of instruments. In this letter he draws on the experience of Charles Hutton (1737-1823‚ also a mathematician and a published author) to help decide the positioning of the illustrations. “...I think I shall consult the Readers Conveniency by having the figures on the Pages rather than on Plates.”
Price : £175.00
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Autograph Letter Signed [to Dr.Charles Hutton]‚ discussing the illustrations in his forthcoming book of Lectures‚ asking for the name of the engraver of “your wooden mathematical Figures‚ and whether such Figures are more expensive than Copper Plate ones”‚ and thanking him for his help with the errata. 1 page 9 x 7½ inches‚ with an annotation ‘addressed to Dr.Charles Hutton‚ and given by him to William Upcott’. In good condition. Cambridge‚ 17 November 1793. “I am preparing a complete course of Lectures in Mathematics & Philosophy for the Use of the Students of the University.” Samuel Vince (1749-1821)‚ mathematician and astronomer‚ author of A Complete System of Astronomy [3 vols.‚ 1797-1808] and many other works‚ has been described as one of the last representatives of the English synthetical school. From 1796 Vince was Plumian Professor of astronomy and experimental philosophy at Cambridge. His lectures‚ the subject of this letter‚ were published in four volumes entitled The Principles of Mathematical and Natural Philosophy (1793-99)‚ his particular subjects being fluxions‚ hydrostatics and astronomy. His Treatise on Practical Astronomy (Cambridge 1790) explained the constructions and use of instruments. In this letter he draws on the experience of Charles Hutton (1737-1823‚ also a mathematician and a published author) to help decide the positioning of the illustrations. “...I think I shall consult the Readers Conveniency by having the figures on the Pages rather than on Plates.” Price : £175.00
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VOLPICELLI‚ Paolo. 7311
Autograph Letter Signed ‘Paul Volpicelli’‚ to M.Boutigny (Pierre Hippolyte Boutigny‚ professor of chemistry)‚ then in London‚ with scientific content‚ rejoicing in Boutigny’s destiny as a “chymical superintendent”‚ asking for works on various subjects including “l’orologe polaire”‚ and sending his regards to Faraday‚ Wheatstone‚ Libri‚ Babbage‚ De Morgan and Airy. In French. 2 pp. 9½ x 7½ inches‚ with the address leaf tipped on to part of an old album page‚ in good condition. Rome‚ 29 August 1852. A good letter by Paolo Volpicelli (1804-79)‚ Italian mathematician‚ professor of physics‚ author of Soluzione completa e generale mediante la geometria di situazione del problema relativo alle corso del cavallo sopra qualunque scacchiere (1872) and other works.
Price : £100.00
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Autograph Letter Signed ‘Paul Volpicelli’‚ to M.Boutigny (Pierre Hippolyte Boutigny‚ professor of chemistry)‚ then in London‚ with scientific content‚ rejoicing in Boutigny’s destiny as a “chymical superintendent”‚ asking for works on various subjects including “l’orologe polaire”‚ and sending his regards to Faraday‚ Wheatstone‚ Libri‚ Babbage‚ De Morgan and Airy. In French. 2 pp. 9½ x 7½ inches‚ with the address leaf tipped on to part of an old album page‚ in good condition. Rome‚ 29 August 1852. A good letter by Paolo Volpicelli (1804-79)‚ Italian mathematician‚ professor of physics‚ author of Soluzione completa e generale mediante la geometria di situazione del problema relativo alle corso del cavallo sopra qualunque scacchiere (1872) and other works. Price : £100.00
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