CHAPPE D'AUTEROCHE, Jean Lot n° 32

Journey to California for the observation of the passage of Venus on the disc of the sun on June 3, 1769. Containing the observations of this phenomenon, & the historical description of the author's route through Mexico. Paris, Charles-Antoine Jombert, 1772. In-4 (272 x 210 mm) of 2 ff.n.ch. 170 pp. 1 f.n.ch. of privilege, 1 large folding engraved plan, 1 folding typographic table, 3 engraved plates. Paperback, combed paper cover (binding redone in the style of the period), modern slipcase. Hill, 278; Sabin, 12003; John Carter Brown, 1818; Howes, C-299; DSB, III, 198. Posthumous first edition. Chappe d'Auteroche (1728-1769), who went on an expedition to observe the transit of Venus in South America, succumbed to an unknown illness and died in San José del Cabo, California, on August 1, 1769. A great scientist, he was noticed by Jacques Cassini (1677-1756), under whom Chappe d'Auteroche published a new corrected edition of the astronomical tables given by Halley before. Copy has all margins; stains on some pages, notably on the folding table).