Search Results:

Bruxelles: Typogr de Henri Samuel, 1880. Wraps. Fine condition. Scarce pamphlet concerning the symmetrical shapes and relationships of Earth's continents which includes an unusual frontispiece hemispherical map of Mars, as well as content on Australia. Written by a Belgian astronomer who was director of the Belgian Royal Observatory, Jean Charles Houzeau. World Cat locates only one copy of this work. The work attempts to describe continental relationships based on similarity of land forms. Chapters 9 & 10 discuss the almost unique varieties of vegetation and mammalia in Australia. Houzeau (1820 - 1888) was a peripatetic astronomer and journalist ousted from the Observatory due to his political views; he moved to the United States for a 20 year period just before the Civil War, and became deeply involved in abolitionism and the anti secessionist movement in Texas. There he worked initially as a surveyor (1858) and led scientific expeditions, then moved to Uvalde County in South Texas where there… Read More