The Moon by Nasmyth, James and James Carpeter - 1874: Considered as a Planet, a World, and a Satellite

Hardcover. Condition: Overall Good, slightly shaken. Second Edition. 4to (22.4 x 16.2 cm). Collation: xvi, 213 [1] pp. including half-title. With printed frontispiece of Gassendi, and 22 mounted Woodburytype numbered plates. With one chromolithograph and many text line illustrations. Each full-page Woodburytype of lunar scenery is 6 1/4x8 inches. laid down on heavy stock. The full Moon Picture-map (Plate IV) is 7x7 inches. Original blue cloth binding with gold embossed image of lunar volcano on front board. London: John Murray, 1874.

Slight wear to top of spine (illustrated) and some rubbing to image on front cover. Plate III is loose, but clean and undamaged. The is occasional spotting to the margins but the Woodbury images are clean and clear. Woodburytypes are important in the history of photography and individual images are much sought after by collectors.

There is scattered staining and spotting as shown in photos, not affecting the Woodburytypes. The front inner hinge is cracked, as shown, but intact. Despite its cosmetic flaws, this copy is complete and contains all the stunning Woodburytype plates. Although the The Moon was an extremely expensive production the bindings of all the editions have not fared well and it is common to see loose signatures and cracked joints as well as foxing and staining.

James Nasmyth built plaster models of lunar features and photographed them under different light conditions, producing some of the most esthetically pleasing images but ones that gave false authority to their substance. The Moon had a large influence in promoting the volcanic theory of crater formation.

Member: ABAA