La gnomonique pratique ou l’art de tracer les cadrans solaires.

Briasson, Despilly und Hardy, Paris, 1760

Second edition of the work first published in 1755. Undoubtedly one of the best general treatises on gnomonics of its time.

Description: Contemporary calf, gilt titles and decoration to spine, raised bands. Octavo: 20 × 12 cm; pp. [6], xxii, 404, [4]. Engraved frontispiece by Gazot, a printer’s device on title page, 34 fold-out plates and a map of France dated 1760, engraved after R. Bonne.

Provenance: An older small label on the front pastedown: M. Daupeley, propriétaire, Nogent. Neat ownership signature of Lanoir to verso of front free endpaper.

Condition: Some rubbing to extremities and slight wear to the spine, headcap is missing, outer hinges somewhat fragile with age. Front flyleaf with an open tear in the gutter area. Text with block occasional mainly marginal spotting and browning. Paper repair in margin of plate 25 and the ‘Map of France’.

Despite the described blemishes, still a nice copy.