Gnomonique mise a la portée de tout le monde, ou méthode simple et aisée pour tracer des cadrans solaires, dans laquelle on trouvera des tables calculées depuis un degré de déclinaison tant orientale qu'occidentale jusqu'au 90e. d. pour les différens angles horaires, pris au centre du cadran; commencées au 43e. d. 18 m. de latitude jusqu'au 51e. qui comprennent tout le royaume de France & les pays qui sont entre les mêmes paralleles. Avec une table alphabétique des principales villes, & la figure & l'explication des instrumens nécessaires pour l'opération
A. Marseille: Chez Jean Mossy 1773. x, [2], 460 pages including tables + 11 illustrations on 5 plates. 8vo. 1/4 leather over marbled boards. Marbling worn, overall minor wear to the binding. Marbled endpapers dampstained. Marbled page edges. Unobtrusive occasional marginal dampstaining throughout. (pages 157-160 mis-numbered or bound out of order but present). Complete. Very Good. Boards. [24008]
Gnomonics (The art or science of dialing, or of constructing dials to show the hour of the day by the shadow of a gnomon.) was of great interest in France during this period. This treatise was known mostly for it's computed tables related to France (only the first 37 pages are explanation and examples, the balance tables). Other works of the period were more useful in explaining the theory and practice, a large number of which appeared after the theory was published in the Royal Academy of Sciences in 1707. (see Recreations in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy ... by Ozanam for a useful discussion). The plates in rear illustrate with simple line drawings.
Also published in 1773 by Vincent in Paris. It is unclear if there is any precedence. Houzeau & Lancaster 11670. Houzeau 975. Not found in the Printed Catalogues of the Library of the Royal Astronomical Society (Luther, Martino:2006)
The title translated roughly into English: "Gnomonic put within the reach of everyone, or simple and easy method to draw sundials, in which we find computed tables from a degree of both eastern and western declination until 90th. d. for different angles schedules, caught dial center; started 43rd. d. 18 m. of latitude to the 51st. which include all the kingdom of France and the countries that are between the same parallel. With an alphabetical table of major cities, and Figure & explaining the necessary instruments for the operation"
Price: $300.00