Baily, Francis (1774-1844), astronomer
Presentation copy of his pamphlet describing 'Baily's beads', with related material
£328
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 21 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
On a Remarkable Phenomenon that occurs in Total and Annular Eclipses of the Sun [drop-head title]. [Offprinted or extracted from:] Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. X. [London: Royal Astronomical Society, 1836/7]. 4to, contemporary blue paper wrappers, 42 pp., lithographic plate, inscribed 'James Veitch Esqr, with the author's compts' at head of page 1. Together with: a proof copy of the first gathering only of the pamphlet (i.e. pp. 1-8), inscribed 'from the author', in unbound sheet, spotted and soiled, first leaf partly split, plate present but with one figure of four excised; and a letter from Bailey to James Veitch of Inch-Bonney, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, 18 March 1837, presumably autograph, written on one side of a single foolscap sheet, enclosing a 'proof copy of the first sheet of a memoir on the subject [of annular eclipses]' and inviting his remarks, annotated on verso presumably by Veitch with dates of the conjunction of Jupiter and Mars, old folds, seal tear, a couple of short splits
Footnote
Note: An interesting group of items relating to one of Baily's most famous discoveries: 'While observing an annular eclipse in May 1836, [Baily] noted the breaking up of the fine solar crescent visible at the beginning and end of central eclipses into a row of lucid points, or beads, the intervals separating which at times appear to be drawn out, as the moon advances, into dark lines or belts—the whole being the combined effect of irradiation and the inequalities of the moon's edge' (ODNB). James Veitch (1771-1834) was a scientific instrument maker and fellow astronomer who permitted Baily use of his home at Inch Bonney, Jedburgh as the site for Baily's observations, a gesture which Baily gratefully acknowledged: 'On my arrival at Jedburgh I looked about for a convenient place for mounting my telescopes, and where i should be free from any interruption: and having heard of Mr. James Veitch, a very ingenious gentleman, residing at Inch Bonney ... I proceeded thither, and was with the greatest readiness and kindness furnished by him with every convenience I required for making my observations' (Baily, 'On a Remarkable Phenomenon ...', p. 2).
Provenance: By descent from James Veitch.