1846-89 HANDWRITTEN LETTERS ARCHIVE MOUCHEZ ASTRONOMER Start Price USD 1,649.99 Current Price USD 1,649.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, July 16, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Location Toronto Cananda See more about '1846-89 HANDWRITTEN LETTERS ARCHIVE MOUCHEZ ASTRONOMER' Description Note: this is an original archive of handwritten to the famed astronomer Admiral Mouchez letter and as such is guaranteed to be authentic and not a copy, replica or facsimile. Never before on ebay: LARGE ARCHIVE OF 17 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT LETTERS TO THE FAMED ASTRONOMER, ADMIRAL, INVENTOR AND AUTHOR ERNEST MOUCHEZ FROM HIS SISTER, CABINET MINISTERS AND COLLEAGUES  On offer is a super archive of seventeen [17] documents from Amédée Ernest Barthélemy Mouchez' personal files. Mouchez was a famed Admiral of the French Navy and Great Astronomer. The archive date range is 1846 through 1898 and is made up of 3 letters from his sister and the balance, a number on stationary of the Rupublic of France. This fascinating archive touches upon many of Mouchez's career highlights as each letter appears to deal with different areas - his work in China, matters of the Observatory, personal commucnications of colleagues etc. Mouchez had a spectacular career; Mouchez embarked on a career in the French Navy as an ensign in 1843. This was a period of relative international maritime peace and much of the navy's activities were dedicated to exploration and discovery. Mouchez was initially occupied on hydrographic studies along the coasts of Korea, China and South America, penetrating 320 km up the Paraguay River and exploring the Abrolhos Islands. He improved the practice of surveying at sea, adapting terrestrial instruments for naval use, and was especially concerned with the problems of determining longitude. He developed the use of the theodolite and meridian telescope to improve the error in establishing longitude. Attaining the rank of post captain in 1868, he embarked on a series of expeditions to chart the coast of Algeria. At the conclusion of his project in 1873, he was elected to the Bureau des Longitudes and, in the following year, was sponsored by the Académie des Sciences to observe the transit of Venus from St. Paul Island in the Indian Ocean. On December 9, he made a sequence of superb photographic plates of the event. In 1875, the Académie elected him a member of the astronomy section and in 1878 he was promoted to rear admiral and awarded the role of director of the Paris Observatory. The observatory had fallen into disrepair and disrepute since the chaos of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the Paris Commune of 1871. Mouchez set about a programme of reconstruction but failed to persuade the government to fund a new observatory outside the centre of Paris.In 1887, he collaborated with Sir David Gill to host an international astronomical conference in Paris. The principal outcome of the conference was a multi-national project to compile and index a photographic atlas of the heavens, the Carte du Ciel. The project consumed massive effort over several decades before it was rendered obsolete by modern astronomical methods. He is also credited with founding Mountsouris Observatory and he is the author of six books on astronomy, navigation, nautical instruction etc. A grand boulevard in Le Havre and a village in Algeria are named for Mouchez. Very unique opportunity for the collector intersecting the histories of astronomy, France, Algeria, militaria, geography, cartography.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi there and welcome to my auctions! My name is Ben and I am a one-man operation based in the Toronto area and have been successfully buying and selling on ebay for several years now, but recently took the plunge and have decided to work at this full-time. I am dedicated to searching out unique, unusual and rare books, manuscripts and one of a kind ephemera items for presentation and consideration of the book and paper buying public on ebay. I hope you will find my auctions all of that and more! Below you will find the most up-to-date terms and conditions. Please read them prior to bidding so that we are all 'on the same page' with regard to the auction requirements. As much as I am a handshake-on-a-deal kind of guy, nobody likes surprises so my terms and conditions are spelled out - and please do not hesitate to write for any reason at all! THANK YOU in advance for your consideration of my books!   BEN.FINDS.BOOKS > BEN.BUYS.BOOKS > BEN.SELLS.BOOKS > BEN.IS.BOOKS! "To be loved is nothing, I want to be preferred." - Gide The Smaller Print I will always mail items, appropriately wrapped, (usually in a bubblewrap or padded envelope) within 24 hours of a cleared payment. Postage is for the least expensive rate, but understand that Canada Post does not offer inexpensive 'media rate' so buyers must be prepared to pay more than a USA originating item. The postage rates are based on weight and distance - if you order a coffee table sized book you are going to pay more than a cup of coffee worth on stamps.            Examples:            To USA:  500-1000 gms = $10.58 postage and taxes                             1000-2000 gms= $13.33 postage and taxes (or more depending on size)            To Anywhere Else (International): 500-1000 gms  = $12.93 postage and taxes                                                                              1000-2000 gms= $18.82 postage and taxes            For Canada I have to know the postal code to quote, but it is usually 30% less expensive than USA quoted rates. NOTE: SMALL EPHEMERA ITEMS USUALLY SHIP AT LETTER RATE. $1.00 - $4.50 depending on size and shape of documents. Additionally, there is a flat $2.75 - $3.50 + for packaging and handling depending on size of package. A word about handling - there is a true cost to servicing your order: parcels back and forth to the post office, parking, atm fees, the packaging itself and the weekly trips to Business Depot for supplies and all the inherent costs associated with that. That said, if you have a problem with this one-man business NOT subsidizing your order then - PLEASE - do not bid. I cannot be held responsible for postal losses unless insurance is asked for, and paid for. Be aware: surface shipping to USA is usually 4 to 18 business days. Europe/overseas is 21 to 65 days.  I strive to give 100% satisfaction, so if there is something you are not happy about, let me know before using the public forum (feedback) and we can sort it out amicably. Every effort is made to accurately describe all merchandise. I do not pretend to be an expert in all areas (I also believe pictures will give the best indication of quality so I give you as many as possible). I also try to stay informed about the items I sell. Nobody wants or likes the frustrations caused by "hidden" flaws and do not wish to cause anyone dissatisfaction. That said, most of my books come from private libraries, auction houses and the odd time from public libraries. As such you can expect that they may have tags, inscriptions, writings, or other indicators of past ownership or price. My #1 policy: Honesty is the only policy. My #1 rule: Do unto others, as one wants done unto themselves. I prefer payment through Paypal, which lets me receive your payment instantly and ship your item sooner. I will be happy to accept Checks, International Postal Orders, but --PLEASE NO CASH! Thank you for looking and please take a moment to look at my other items on ebay. Interested in multiple purchases? I always combine items to reduce the overall shipping fees. Please email any and all questions prior to bidding. Payment is due within 7 days of close of auction. Personal checks accepted, but held for bank clearance (usually 14-21 days.) International money orders, cashiers checks, or Paypal, ensures shipment in 24-48 hours. Do not send cash!!! Buyer agrees to pay all shipping and insurance. If you have questions, please write me, prior to bidding. Good Bidding! FROM SQUARE TO RARE.... BEN.FINDS.BOOKS > BEN.BUYS.BOOKS > BEN.SELLS.BOOKS > BEN.IS.BOOKS! and handwritten ephemera: manuscripts, diaries, letters and journals PLEASE MARK ME IN > YOUR FAVORITE SELLERS > I LIST NEW BOOKS > ALMOST DAILY! Powered by eBay Turbo Lister Place a Bid!