BEVIS, John (1693-1771). [FIRST VOYAGE] -- "An observation of an Eclipse of the sun at the Island of New-found-land, August 5, 1776, by Mr. James Cook with the Longitude of the Place of Observation deduced from it." Extract from The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society , vol. LVII, 1767. 8 o (216 x 173 mm). 1 leaf. Modern blue paper wrappers. FIRST EDITION. This report by Bevis was instrumental in bringing Cook to the attention of the Royal Society. Bevis, Nevil Maskelyne, John Cambell and four other members of the Society met in November 1767, just over a year after Cook had made the observation here described, to plan the expedition to observe the transit of Venus which was due to occur on 3 June 1769. The significance of this observation was profound in navigation, for Halley had concluded that the rare transits of Venus, across the face of the sun, could help determine the distances to the planets. In order for this calculation to work, however, the observations needed to be taken at great distances across the earth so that parallax could be taken into effect. This goal instigated Cook's first Endeavour voyage. See Richard Hough, Captain James Cook , pp.35-6. Mitchell Library Cook 1930; Holmes 93.
BEVIS, John (1693-1771). [FIRST VOYAGE] -- "An observation of an Eclipse of the sun at the Island of New-found-land, August 5, 1776, by Mr. James Cook with the Longitude of the Place of Observation deduced from it." Extract from The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society , vol. LVII, 1767. 8 o (216 x 173 mm). 1 leaf. Modern blue paper wrappers. FIRST EDITION. This report by Bevis was instrumental in bringing Cook to the attention of the Royal Society. Bevis, Nevil Maskelyne, John Cambell and four other members of the Society met in November 1767, just over a year after Cook had made the observation here described, to plan the expedition to observe the transit of Venus which was due to occur on 3 June 1769. The significance of this observation was profound in navigation, for Halley had concluded that the rare transits of Venus, across the face of the sun, could help determine the distances to the planets. In order for this calculation to work, however, the observations needed to be taken at great distances across the earth so that parallax could be taken into effect. This goal instigated Cook's first Endeavour voyage. See Richard Hough, Captain James Cook , pp.35-6. Mitchell Library Cook 1930; Holmes 93.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
