17th to 19th centuries Bedos de Celles, F. La... Lot 228

[17th to 19th centuries] Bedos de Celles, F. La gnomique pratique, ou l'art de tracer les cadrans solaires avec la plus grande précision (...). Seconde édition. Neuf livres, reliée en veau. Paris, Chardon for Delalain, 1774, XL,510 p., w. engr. frontisp., fold. map of France and 38 fold. plates, contemp. (orig.?) marbled calf w. gilt and ribbed spine. The map w. sm. tear in blank margin near spine, old annotations on first blank p., minimal other internal imperfections, upper joint split but holding on cords, spine-ends chipped and edges of covers/ outer corners showing. Still a good copy. Second edition (first: 1760) of this standard manual on sundials by the Benedictine Bedos de Celles (1709-1779), better known as a builder of pipe organs.