Barnard, Edward Emerson.

first edition, 2 volumes, oblong 4to (248 x 272mm.), half-titles, volume 1 with photogravure portrait frontispiece of Barnard, photographic plate, and 51 mounted silver prints, as issued, each with accompanying leaf of descriptive letterpress, volume 2 with 50 charts and tables, pencil annotations to charts 40 and 41, original brown buckram, flat spines lettered in gilt, portrait offset onto title (as always), small ink shelfmark on spines, extremities a little rubbed

University of Groningen, withdrawal stamp on preliminary blank

a fine copy of a rare work. Edwin B. Frost (Barnard's colleague) who, together with Mary R. Calvert (Barnard's assistant and niece), completed this publication, states, "The long delay in appearance calls for an explanation... The attempts made with the photogravure and other processes did not give the assurance of uniformity that was desired, and finally the author was persuaded that actual photographic prints would be more satisfactory... than any other method of reproduction." Only 700 copies were produced and Barnard states in his preface that he personally examined each one of the 37,500 photographs.

"It can safely be said in retrospect that Barnard (1857-1923) was the foremost observational astronomer of his time, ranking with Sir William Herschel in the range of his contributions and in the peculiar intuitive genius and native instinct that formal training may discipline and supplement, but never supplant" (DSB).