One of the greatest achievements in lunar cartography of the 19th century

SCHMIDT, Johann Friedrich Julius.

Charte der Gebirge des Mondes nach eigenen Beobachtungen in den Jahren 1840-1874 entworfen / . . . Erläuterungsband / Kurze Erläuterung zu J. Schmidt's Mondcharte in 25 Sectionen.

Berlin: Dietrich Reimer, 1878.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #102812

Complete set of all three parts (1. atlas, 2. text volume and 3. short explanatory text). 1. Atlas: large oblong folio (493 x 487 mm). Single-side printed title sheets and 25 tinted lithographed maps of lunar sections, all loosely inserted in later folder with original printed label laid down on front cover (label somewhat soiled and waterstained). The maps generally clean and bright with only a trifle dust-soiling to outer margins, title brown-stained by folder flaps and with some edge-chipping). 2. Text volume: Charte der Gebirge des Mondes nach eigenen Beobachtungen in den Jahren 1840-1874 ... Erläuterungsband. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer. 4to (303 x 229 mm). xii, 303 [1] pp., 1 text illustration. Original half cloth, publisher's printed label laid down on front board, spine with original printed paper label (light dust-soiling, spine label slightly chipped, corners and edges bumped (one corner stronger with fold), cloth split at lower hinge towards foot of spine). Text with light, mostly marginal, age-toning (title and final page a bit stronger), occasional minor spotting. 3. Kurze Erläuterung zu J. Schmidt's Mondcharte in 25 Sectionen. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer. 4to (313 x 239 mm). 19 [1] pp. Original publisher's printed wrappers (little tanned and dust-soiled, light edge chipping), the text loosely inserted as issued, pages mostly unopened. The text age-toned, dust-soiling to front-page, one page with brown-staining from formerly inserted paper slip. A very good and complete set, exceptionally rare with all three parts. ----

Ashworth, The face of the moon, Linda Hall 14; Whitaker, Mapping and Naming the Moon, p.131-135 - EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST EDITION. " The Schmidt map was the pinnacle of nineteenth-century selenography. Published in 25 sheets, if assembled it would make a map 6 1/2 feet across. There are over 33,000 craters depicted (compared to about 7,100 for Lohrmann and 7,800 for Beer and Mädler). For most of the position measurements Schmidt relied on the work of his predecessors, but he did determine himself the height of over 3,000 mountains, using the techniques invented by his countryman Schröter, whose book had inspired him to take up astronomy in the first place. The map was published in photolithograph by the Office of the Prussian General Staff." (Ashworth, 14)
"Beginning in about 1840, [Schmidt] observed the Moon assiduously for some 34 years, making numerous drawings and height and depth measurements. All this extensive work culminated in 1878 with the publication of a map and book, Charte der Gebirge des Mondes. The format of the map follows that initiated by Lohrmann, i.e. 25 square sections with no overlap, south-up, with topography indicated by hachuring. The map areas are coloured with a pleasant sepia tone, with the darker patches emphasized either by stippling or by deeper sepia ink." (Whitaker, p.131). - Visit our website for additional images!

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