Jean PICARD, Philippe de LA HIRE
Traité du nivellement par M. Picard
Chez Etienne Michalet|à Paris 1684|9 x 16 cm|relié
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.
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.
€800