Philippe de LA HIRE

Rare first edition, illustrated with several diagrams in the text and 3 plates of leveling instruments invented by Picard for the leveling of the château de Versailles. Edition produced by Philippe de la Hire, after Jean Picard's death, and from manuscripts found at his residence.
Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Brown calf title label. 3 corners slightly bumped. Rubbing. Good copy.
The work is divided into distinct chapters, the first being a theory of leveling in relation to the earth's surface, those that follow being an application of this theory and practical examples of leveling. One finds there for example the way to bring water to Versailles through measurements despite differences in terrain. The last part concerns the measurement of the earth. Picard had been charged by the Académie des sciences to measure one degree of meridian. The result found by Picard was the most accurate found at that time and allowed science and notably Newton to pursue his work on universal gravitation whereas he had been hindered by imprecise and faulty measurements.

Second edition statement, illustrated with 26 plates, most of them folding, including a frontispiece. Title pages in red and black.
Contemporary full marbled brown calf bindings. Decorated raised band spines. Red morocco title labels, and black wax volume labels. One lack at head of volume I. One corner bumped. Rubbing. Good copies.
Among the remarkable articles mentioned in each section, we note the following: Reflections on spaces more than infinite by M. Wallis by M. Varignon. Observations on the methods of Maximis & Minimis, where the identity & difference of that of the analysis of the infinitely small with those of M. Fermat and Hudde is shown, by M. Guisnée. Continuation of the establishment of some new genera of plants, by M. Tournefort. Reflections on the appearances of the body of the moon, by M. de La Hire. Discovery of a new star, by M. Maraldi. Supplement to the memoir on voice and tones, by M. Dodart. Observations on iron under burning glass, by M. Homberg. Solution to the problem proposed by Bernouilli, by M. Bernouilli, his brother. On honey and its chemical analysis, by M. Lemeri. Treatise on roulettes by M. de La Hire. Different ways of finding the osculating radii of all sorts of curves, by M. Varignon. Various astronomical and meteorological observations for the year 1706.

Edition illustrated with 16 folding plates, 8 per volume.
Contemporary full marbled brown calf bindings. Spines with raised bands decorated. Red morocco title labels, and black wax volume labels. Head of volume I with headcap partly missing. One hole along the upper joint of volume I. 2 corners slightly bumped. Worming throughout the first volume in the lower margin, the holes progressively becoming galleries, then reverting to holes. Good set overall.
Notable articles to be retained in each of the mentioned sections include: Remarks on the construction of geometric loci & equations by M. de La Hire; General construction of magic squares by M. Sauveur; Use of a given integral by M. le Marquis de L'hôpital by M. Varignon; On breaking points of figures by M. Parent; General method for the construction of circular arcs by M. de La Hire; Observations on bezoar by M. Geoffroy; Remarks on the movement of planets by M. de la Hire... Numerous astronomical observations by Cassini, Maraldi...