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![[ASTRONOMY]. GAUSS, Carl Friedrich (1777-1855). Theory of the Heavenly Bodies Moving About the Sun in Conic Sections: A Translation of Gauss's "Theori](https://s1.img.bidsquare.com/item/xl/3742/37425489.jpeg?t=1WwYA2)
Lot 137
[ASTRONOMY]. GAUSS, Carl Friedrich (1777-1855). Theory of the Heavenly Bodies Moving About the Sun in Conic Sections: A Translation of Gauss's "Theori
Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500
Sold for
$1,020
Sold Price includes BP
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[ASTRONOMY]. GAUSS, Carl Friedrich (1777-1855). Theory of the Heavenly Bodies Moving About the Sun in Conic Sections: A Translation of Gauss's "Theoria Motus." Boston: Little, Brown, 1857. 4to. xvii, [3, blank], 326, 39 (tables), [1, list of constants], With eight engraved plates of diagrams. Publisher's brown cloth. Covers and spine blocked in blind, spine lettered in gilt. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH OF GAUSS' CHIEF WORK ON CELESTIAL MECHANICS. Front blank with ink presentation by "Mr. Horatio Miller." Gauss' work originally appeared in 1809. It is here translated by Charles Henry Davis (1809-1877), Commander and later Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and Superintendent of the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac. In this work, Gauss introduced the principle of curvilinear triangulation and the four formulae in spherical trigonometry known as "Gauss's Analogies," by which he was able to accurately calculate and predict orbit location.
Condition
Recased, spine and boards lightly sunned, spine edges and corners lightly bumped and worn, endleaves offset, text toned, rp. a bit bubbled. Still, a fine copy, better than usually seen.
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For discussions of the first edition, see Norman 879, Printing and the Mind of Man, 257n. Dibner, Heralds, 144n, Houzeau and Lancaster 11897.
