LACAILLE (LA CAILLE), Nicolas Louis de. — Lectiones elementares astronomiae, geometriae, et physicae, ex editione Parisina anni 1755 in Latinum traductae a C.S(chefer) e S.J. Including: Appendix, complectens Praecipuas Mutationes, quas Auctor in Ultima Editione Parisina anno 1761 fecit, et in Latinum convertit C.S(chefer) e S.J.Vienna, Prague, Johann Thomas Trattner, 1757-1762. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With woodcut vignette on 2 title-pages, 10 folding engraved plates in text. Contemporary vellum.

[10], 280, [6]; 75, [1 blank] pp.First Latin edition of a popular school book on astronomy, geometry and natural science, translated from the second French edition published at Paris in 1755, together with an Appendix, containing a Latin translation of the corrections and additions of the latest Paris edition of 1761. Nicolas Louis de La Caille (1713-1762), was a famous French astronomer and mathematician, professor at the College Mazarin. The present work, first published at Paris in 1741, contains his lectures to pupils at the College, used in Schefer's Latin translation by the Latin Schools in Vienna and Prague. It covers applied mathematics, cosmography, map making, horology, perspective, surveying, etc. With 10 folding engraved plates with arithmetical exercises and tables in text and geometrical and perspectival figures and illustrations.With old owner's inscription on first endpaper; spine chipped at the upper corner. Very good large-paper copy.l Honeyman 1867; Houzeau-Lancaster 9254; Poggendorff I, 1337; not in De Backer & Sommervogel; for Lacaille: DSB I, pp. 542-545.