Biddell Airy, Astronomer Royal, "POPULAR ASTRONOMY: a series of lectures delivered at Ipswich, sixth edition revised”, London, Macmillan and co 1868. 12mo, pp.xii, 292, including a folding plate and numerous illustrations in text. Biddell Airy was a famous English mathematician and astronomer, Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881. He delivered a series of popular lectures on astronomy at Ipswich Museum, with hundreds of people participating. Airys words were recorded in shorthand and the transcript was initially printed in book form under the title “Lectures on Astronomy by the Astronomer Royal”. Although the size of the print run is not clear, four editions had been printed before 1865. A revised pocket-sized version of the book entitled “Popular Astronomy” was published by Macmillan in 1866, with Airys permission. The current edition was reprinted 7 times (!) until 1887.

Large label of the “University College School” stating that the book was awarded as a first prize for Astronomy in a 1871 class. Contemporary binding: full leather, paneled in gilt boards with blind-stamped in gilt “U.C.S. / Paulatim” on both boards, spine with decorations in gilt. Light external edge-wear and just occasional spotting.  Rare.