Jean Sylvain BAILLY

A complete set of the astronomical writings of Jean Sylvain Bailly, partly in first edition. This is the main work of the author,  first Mayor of Paris, elected during his lifetime to three French academies, a distinction previously achieved only by Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle.

The present set comprises the second edition of the Histoire de l'astronomie ancienne, the new edition of the Histoire de l'astronomie moderne, and the first edition of the Traité de l'astronomie indienne et orie

First edition. Bailly would publish a sequel in 1779, entitled: Lettres sur l'atlantide de Platon et sur l'ancienne historie de l'Asie. Pour servir de suite aux lettres sur l'origine des sciences.
Contemporary full speckled blonde calf binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with fillets. Red morocco title label. Tears to joints at head. Rubbing. Paper yellowed. Good copy.
In his Histoire de l'astronomie ancienne, Jean-Sylvain Bailly had established that the origin of sciences and techniques came from the ancient peoples of Asia, which led him into a polemic with Voltaire. There followed an exchange of letters of which this work bears witness. The collection contains Voltaire's