A Compendium of Astronomy; Intended to Simplify and Illustrated the Principles of the Science, and Give a Concise View of the Motions and Aspects of the Great Heavenly Luminaries; Adapted to the Use of Common Schools, as well as Higher Seminaries. (Stere…

viii, 184 pp. 12mo. Leather spine, printed paper over boards. Eight fold-out plates follow text, depicting various aspects of the solar system (planets, the moon, patterns of orbit, stars, constellations, etc.). A guide to basic astronomy for the use of students. Includes an introductory sketch of the history of ancient astronomy, a glossary of astronomical terms, and chapters on: the solar system; causes of the planetary motion; prospect of the heavens, as seen from different parts of the solar system; comets; equation of time; the harvest moon; the tides; eclipses; divisions of time; obliquity; parallax; the fixed stars; refraction; twilight; latitude and longitude; meteors; artificial globes. Index precedes text. Though numerous copies were found in institutional holdings, appears to be somewhat uncommon in the trade - at the time our copy was cataloged, only 2 records of sale at auction in the last fifty years, and only 2 other copies offered for sale.