This book by French author Noel Antoine Pluche, a priest, has 621 pages of French text dedicated to natural history. This is the 4th volume (of nine), which is focused on astronomy and geography. Included with the text are a number of engravings showing various scientific tools and processes. There are a total of 12 maps within the book including two celestial maps (on four sheets) by Jean Back showing the northern and southern skies. The constellations are finely engraved with figures, including Orion, Gemini, Perseus, Leo, Arcturus, Hercules, Sagittarius, and the Milky Way. Other maps in the volume include a Ptolemaic map of the ancient world, and maps covering portions of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Full contemporary calf with gilt tooling and title on the spine.

We have sold the Back maps separately in the past including in auction 139 and auction 127.

References:

Condition: B+

Maps are good to mostly very good with some light toning and occasional offsetting. A dampstain in the lower third of the volume is visible on some text pages and a few of the plates. Covers are lightly worn with a few abrasions at bottom.