Milestones of Science Books

KRIEGER, Johann Nepomuk.

Mond-Atlas, entworfen nach den Beobachtungen an der Pia-Sternwarte in Triest.

Triest: Privately Printed, 1898.

1st Edition. Hardcover. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. Near Fine. Item #002173

4to (315 x 257 mm), with photogravure of Krieger's observatory and 28 photolithographed plates, each with a transparent key overlay. Original three-quarter cloth with publisher's printed boards. Only very little soiling and age-toning, overlay tissue guards browned as usual, inner hinges starting. A fine, crisp copy. -----

Ashworth, The face of the moon, Linda Hall 27 (ref.) - FIRST EDITION. Krieger (1856-1902) 'was a gifted draftsman, but he realized that it make little sense to spend time drawing features that the camera could record. So he had the brilliant idea of adding the finer details by hand at the telescope. The resulting maps of selected craters were not equaled until the U.S. Air Force began issuing its own series of photobase lunar charts in the 1960s.
'Krieger published the first volume of his drawings in 1898; it contained twenty-eight plates. Due to overwork, his health broke shortly thereafter, and he died before the contemplated second volume could be issued. His manuscripts were taken over by Rudolf König, and the remaining drawings were finally published in 1912.
'The posthumous publication contains one of the most impressive drawings of the crater Gassendi ever made. Gassendi has always been a favorite object for observers, because of the intricate rill system on the crater floor' (William Ashworth, Jr, The face of the moon, Galileo to Apollo, n 27 (1912 vol only). - Visit our website to see more images!

Price: 1,500 €  *  convert currency