Haussard Lot n° 1029

DERHAM, William Astronomical Theology, or Demonstration of the existence and attributes of god, through the examination and description of the heavens. The Hague M. Guyot de Merville 1729 8vo: [36]-211-[44-3 bl.] pp. (some minor soiling; a couple pp. strengthened at inner margin). Later half sheep (rubbed), cardboard covers, spine with 5 raised bands (joints splitting, head & tail def.), red spr. edges. Good copy. First French translation by F. Bellenger (1688-1749) of William Derham's (1657-1735) "Astro-theology; or a Demonstration of the Beings and Attributes of God", first publ. 1714. Ill. with 3 engr. folding plates showing the solar system, Saturn and lunar cycles, and a map of the moon (signed Haussard). A Paris ed. (printer "Chaubert", but probably printed in the Netherlands) appeared the same year, but our ed. is much less common. It contains teleological arguments for the being and attributes of God, but also several newly identified astronomical objects. Ref. STCN. - Cp. La Lande 389 (Paris ed.). - Not in Houzeau/Lancaster. - Not in BL, BnF. Prov. "Le B[aron] de Cler", i.e. Jean Frédéric Guillaume de Cler (1708-1784), Liège bibliophile and owner of Château Neercanne south of Maastricht (ownership entry on title).