Seventh edition of John Keill's An Introduction to the True Astronomy, or Astronomical Lectures, Read in the Astronomical School of the University of Oxford, printed in Dublin by William Porter, 1802. Keill, Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, was among the first to lecture on Newtonian natural philosophy there, and this work — first published in 1721 as an English rendering of his 1718 Latin lectures — became a standard astronomy textbook through the eighteenth century, running to numerous editions. Dedicated to James, Duke of Chandos; illustrated throughout with engraved diagrams, including the geometric/spherical-astronomy figures at Plate XVIII shown here.
Bound in contemporary full calf, with a gilt-ruled spine in compartments and a red morocco label lettered "Astronomical Lectures."
Condition: spine worn at the extremities with cracking to the leather at the joints, boards rubbed. Title page and preliminary leaves show old dampstaining, with further foxing and toning through the text; plates present and complete as called for. Binding holding but tender at the front joint.
