An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phaenomena of the visible creation; and particularly the Via Lactea
by Wright, Thomas
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
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About This Item
London: printed for the author, and sold by H. Chapelle, 1750. First edition, 4to, pp. viii, [4], 84; title page printed in red and black, 32 engraved plates (2 folding, 8 rather spectacular ones in mezzotint), wood-engraved initials, head- and tailpieces, with the errata- and list of subscribers leaves, without the final blank; recent full speckled calf by Phil Dusel, double gilt-rule on covers, gilt-decorated spine in 7 compartments, red morocco label in 1, gilt edges; quarter tan calf clamshell box. A very nice, large copy measuring 11 3/8" x 9". The list of subscribers consists of a mere 113 names, so the edition was likely a small one and the book is consequently rare. A beautifully illustrated book, and one of considerable importance in the history of science. Wright first explained the Milky Way and the nebulae as external galaxies and provided the basis for the theories on the universe by Kant, Herschel and Laplace. Wright, a teacher of navigation and a land surveyor by profession, "hypothesized a 'divine center' of the universe, corresponding to a gravitational center around which the sun and other stars orbited. He also proposed, as a possible explanation for the visual phenomenon of the Milky Way, a model of the universe in which the orbiting stars formed a flattened ring. This hypothesis caused Immanuel Kant, who did not realize that Wright's 'center' was supernatural, to credit Wright with originating a disk-shaped model of the galaxy" (Norman). "It was only in the nineteenth century, after the work of William Herschel, that the spiral shape of the galaxy became accepted, and Wright with his grindstone was seen as a precursor" (OBNB). Norman 2265; DSB XIV, p.518-9; Honeyman 3143; Gingerich, Rara Astronomica 53.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Rulon-Miller Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 50032
- Title
- An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phaenomena of the visible creation; and particularly the Via Lactea
- Author
- Wright, Thomas
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- printed for the author, and sold by H. Chapelle
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1750
- Keywords
- Astronomy , Milky Way , ,
Terms of Sale
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About the Seller
Rulon-Miller Books
Biblio member since 2006
St. Paul, Minnesota
About Rulon-Miller Books
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Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Clamshell Box
- A protective box designed for storing and preserving a bound book or loose sheets. A clamshell box is hinged on one side, with...
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...