Item #23851 [ Geometry manuscript ] Practische Geometrie von G. L. Meyer nach Dr. Hunaus. Georg Christian Konrad Hunäus, G. L. Meyer.
[ Geometry manuscript ] Practische Geometrie von G. L. Meyer nach Dr. Hunaus
[ Geometry manuscript ] Practische Geometrie von G. L. Meyer nach Dr. Hunaus
[ Geometry manuscript ] Practische Geometrie von G. L. Meyer nach Dr. Hunaus
[ Geometry manuscript ] Practische Geometrie von G. L. Meyer nach Dr. Hunaus

[ Geometry manuscript ] Practische Geometrie von G. L. Meyer nach Dr. Hunaus

[ Hannover, Germany ]: [ G. L. Meyer ] 1846-1847. First Edition. 231, [2 - blank], 233-450, [451-464 blank], [18] pages. 8 x 10.5 inches. Period marbled paper boards with green paper spine label "Practische Geometrie". Title from first blank flyleaf, which contains pencilled notation "Practische Geometrie von G. L. Meyer nach Dr. Hunaus" and then "Hannover 1846/47.". Untrimmed foreedges. An entirely manuscript text, written in ink and pencil throughout. Blank pages as noted in pagination. Page numbers are mostly inked, with occasional pencilled and/or inferred numbering. First 4 pages contain chapter headings, with pencilled notes in the margin indicating corresponding page numbers in most cases. There are 125 pencilled and 93 penned marginal illustrations, many simple line drawings but a dozen or so quite complex (typically illustrating surveying instruments). The last 2 pages appear to be a key of sorts. There are additionally occasional marginal notes, tables in the text, and occasional small icons in the text. The inked illustrations often have penciled labels as if to refer to portions of the text. Very Good. Boards. [23851]


G. L. Meyer, the author of this manuscript, is probably Gerhard Lucas Meyer [1830-1916] who later in life became a steel industrialist. He was tutored in early life privately, but attended the higher trade school in Hannover, Germany from 1845-1850 during which time he would have taken courses from Prof. Hunaus who was teaching there during this period. (Deutsche Biographe website).

Professor Hunaus wrote a book titled "Lehrbuch der praktischen Geometrie zum Gebrauche an höheren technischen Lehranstalten" in 1848 which was published by Helwing, Hannover. In the forward to that book, Prof. Hunaus notes that he based the book on lecture notes and outlines he had used for teaching since about 1843. Hunaus's book included 15 folding plates in the rear, containing nearly 200 figures. "In 1843 [Hunaus] received his doctorate in Jena and he became the first scientist to the teaching field of geodesy at the higher trade school in Hanover. In 1857, when it was renamed the Polytechnic School, he was appointed professor." (German Wikipedia)

We surmise that Meyer, his student, made detailed notes during the class, and perhaps helped Prof. Hunaus by transcribing them in a uniform hand so that others (Prof Hunaus?) could make corrections in preparation for publishing. The manuscript has the feel of an edited draft, with pencilled illustrations and notations perhaps added for clarification or in order to test the text's accuracy. It is far too neat to be the work of a student's day to day scribblings in class.

This manuscript text would be an interesting addition to any collection studying the way in which mathematics was taught at the time. A detailed comparison would no doubt provide some interesting insights into the changes made in the eventual published text relative to the way that the course was taught in the previous few years.

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