TENERIFFE, AN ASTRONOMER'S EXPERIMENT: or Specialities of a Residence above the Clouds

London, England: Lowell Reeve, 1858. xvi, 451pages, 2 pages ad for The Literary Gazette, 24 pages Lowell Reeve catalogue, 15 pages catalogue of Francis Frith's 100 Egypt and Nubia stereoviews published by Negretti & Zambra, and 1 page ad for Negretti & Zambra meteorological instruments. Illustrated with a map of Teneriffe and 20 original albumen stereoviews by Smyth. With the Lowell Reeve catalogue dated January 1858, this is the first state of the first edition, one of 1,000 copies printed in January. Charles Piazzi Smyth, Scottish Royal Astronomer, travelled to Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, to make astronomical, meteorological, and geological observations using a telescope on Mount Guajara. His scientific observations were reported in "Philosophical Transactions" and this book was his popular account of the expedition. IT WAS THE FIRST BOOK ILLUSTRATED WITH MOUNTED PHOTOGRAPHIC STEREOVIEWS! The book is clean and tight; professionally and sympathetically rebacked with the original spine cloth laid down. Spine lettering and the gilt telescope on the front cover remain reasonably bright and lightly rubbed. Moderate foxing on the tissue guards for the stereoviews, but only minor foxing in the margins of some of the views; one corner (2" by 3 1/2") excised from the front free endpaper. Previous ownerr's names ( "F. Besant 1865" and "J. Pollitt") written on ffep and first blank page, respectively. A nice copy of an important book in the history of photography. Roosens & Salu 9814, The Truthful Lens 152.. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/No Dust Jacket, as Issued. Illus. by C. Piazzi Smyth. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Book.