[Photobook] Teneriffe, an astronomer's experiment : or, Specialities of a residence above the clouds by SMYTH, Charles Piazzi (1819-1900) - 1858

London: Lovell Reeve, 1858. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine+. First Issue (publisher's 16-page catalogue dated January 1858) of the first book to be illustrated with stereo views. An edition of 1,000 was published in January, 1858, and a further 1,000 copies in July, 1858." (Gernsheim) Crown 8vo (187 x 120mm): xvi,451,[3],16,[4]pp, with 20 tissue-guarded (mostly), numbered, and mounted stereo albumen photographs (depicting flora, fauna, and members of the expedition) and errata leaf. Original purple wave-grain cloth, gilt device of telescope to upper cover, spine titled in gilt, top edge gilt, maroon end papers. Book plate to front paste down of Joseph M. Gleason (1869-1942), Californian Catholic priest, historian, and collector of books and photographs. Spine gilt a bit dulled (but legible), cover tips rubbed, text margins very lightly toned but generally clean throughout, tissue guards foxed (as usual), number stamped on title page verso. Unusually, only two of the plates are moderately faded. An excellent example. Imagining Paradise, pp. 96-97. Truthful Lens 152. Gernsheim 79. Smyth's firsthand account of an expedition to Mount Teide, in the Canary Islands, to test his theory concerning the advantage of high-altitude astronomical observation. Piazzi-Smith, Her Majesty's astronomer for Scotland, made astronomical observations at different altitudes on El Teide, Tenerife's highest peak, showing for the first time that more stars can be seen at the top of a mountain than at sea level, by effectively eliminating the lower third part of the atmosphere. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).