Herschel, Sir John F. W.; Drashusova, A. (translator)

Ocherki Astronomii [ ] [Outlines of Astronomy translated into Russian, Volume 2 ONLY]

Moscow: Kratkov and Co 1862. [4], v, 343, [1] pages plus 3 plates. 8vo. Blue cloth. Volume 2 ONLY. Herschel's personal copy, with the Herschel Collingwood Library stamps on title, half-title, and first pages. From the library of previous owner Dr. Sydney Ross's with his book ticket on front pastedown. An uncut, unopened copy. Binding sound with overall wear. Bumped corners, rubbing to the extremities. Plates are marked Plate II, IV, and VII as called for on the index of plates opposite page 344. Laid in is typed card with the book's information as found in other books from the Herschel collection handled by Ross. Very Good. Cloth. [26138]


The second volume ONLY of the Russian translation of Sir John Herschel's 'Outlines of Astronomy'. Ross, in his Catalogue of the Herschel Library notes only the 1863 edition in 2 volumes (#1505). Rare.

Previous owner "Sydney Ross, leading chemist and bibliophile, was a former Professor of Colloid Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, and founder, and until his death, and president of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation...From early in life Ross had developed a deep interest in the history of science, a notable publication being Nineteenth-Century Attitudes: Men of Science (Kluwer, 1991). This comprised erudite essays on the word “scientist”, Volta potential, electro-magnetic induction, electro-chemistry, and work of Faraday and Herschel. Using their example, also that of Babbage, Davy, Dalton, Darwin, Cavendish, Leslie, Whewell, Maxwell and others, Ross added knowledge and provided a masterly demonstration of the transition to professionalism in science....Another history publication in 2001, one that evoked an inspiring lecture to the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, was his 590-page annotated Catalogue of the Herschel Library of astronomers William and John Herschel, many of the books which he had bought at auction in 1958....Ross’s main interest latterly was in promoting the life and work of James Clerk Maxwell and in 1977 he became founder chairman of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation which in 1987 acquired and developed Maxwell’s birthplace at 14 India Street, Edinburgh, as a mathematical study centre." (obituary in the Scotsman, 21st Feb 2014)

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING:
Herschel, Isabella, Ross, Sydney (editor). "The catalogue of the Herschel Library : being a catalogue of the books owned by Sir William Herschel, Kt. and by his son Sir John F.W. Herschel, Bart." Troy, NY : Printed for the editor, 2001

Price: $350.00