Bibliographie Generale de l'Astronomie jusqu'en 1880. [ Complete set, 2 volumes in 3 books ]

Holland Press, London, new edition, 1964. 2 vols in 3, Cloth-backed boards, large 8vo, complete set of 2 volumes in 3 books. xxiv, vii, 858 + vii, [1], 858- 1727 + lxxxix, 2225 pp. Approximately 42,500 entries. This is the scarce, best edition of Houzeau & Lancaster's classic bibliography on early astronomy and astrology. The first edition of their work was published in various parts between 1880 and 1889 with miscellaneous supplementary material. This 1965 edition reproduces the entire bibliographical content of the original edition, plus the 310 page Introduction to the History of Astronomy (which are both in French), and vastly increases its usefulness by providing an author index together with new editorial material, all of which is added in English, including an introduction explaining the arrangement of the bibliography and a list of errata. This attractive Holland Press edition is scarce and much sought after. (A later reprint of the first edition is in much smaller format and less pleasant to use and lacks the new material). In all Houzeau & Lancaster describe in Volume I some 15,880 printed works and manuscripts, with the contents of Volume II on periodicals and journals and publications of academic societies bringing the total to an astonishing 42,500 works. Their bibliography is indispensable not just for astronomy but also for the important and substantial section on astrology. The contents of this complete set, issued as 2 volumes bound in 3 books, are as follows : Volume I : Editorial Introduction; Content and Arrangement of the Entries; Explanation of the Abbreviations; Introduction: The history of Astronomy; Summary of Contents of the Introduction; Bibliography, Part 1 Section I Historical Works. Nos. 1-3596 Section II Astrology. Nos. 3597-5915; Bibliography, Part 2 Section III Biographies and Correspondence. Nos. 5916-7885 Section IV Educational and General Works. Nos. 7886-9617 Section V Spherical Astronomy. Nos. 9618-11780 Section VI Theoretical Astronomy. Nos. 11781-15880; Analytical Table of the Bibliography; Guide to the Manuscripts; Index of Authors of Printed Works; Errata in Volume I; Volume II : Editorial Introduction; Analytical Table of Contents; Alphabetical Table of Contents; Introduction (to both Volumes I and II); Analysis of the Publications of Learned Societies, etc.; Key to the Abbreviations; A. Publications of Learned Societies; Collected Works; B. Periodicals and Journals; Bibliography, Sections I to IX; (Supplement); Index to Authors; Additions and Corrections to the Author Index; Errata in Volume II. Boards sunned at top, otherwise a Good set in creased and torn and somewhat marked dustwrappers.