Description Usage Reflexion Differentes Methodes by Borda Chevalier (1 results)

First edition of this rare and important French navigational work with very interesting provenance. Three engraved plates. Small 4to, pages: 87:(1):33 (tables): (1, blank). Contemporary full speckled tan French calf, wide decoratve gilt border to sides, spine gilt and lettered direct. A litle chipped at lower upper joint, corners rubbed else overall a very good crisp copy. This copy belonged to Frederic de Bissy (17681803) astronomer on board Le Geographe on Baudin's expedition to Australia. Inscribed on front fly "F. Bissy astronome sur la Corvette de Geographe des le Expedition au Capitaine Baudin" . This copy given to Bissy by the author, the title page inscribed "Donne par M. de Borda".This expedition was organised to establish a permanent colonial presence in the South Seas before the British, concentrating on the mapping of the coast of Australia and New Guinea. Nicolas Baudin died in Mauritius in 1803, another naturalist on the island of Timor, two other naturalists chose to stay on the island and Frederic de Bissy and his fellow astronomer died of dysentery. The 'reflecting circle' (built by Borda with Etienne Lenoir) was capable of correcting navigational computations at sea. This book describes the instrument itself, then describes the use of telescopes and mirrors, and the final thirty-three pages are tables of calculations.