Eloge historique de Jean Sylvain Bailly, au nom de la République des Lettres, par une société de gens de lettres; suivi de notes et de quelques pièces en prose et en vers.

A Londres, Dans le Strand, Chez S.P. Rinistad-Stumear, 1794. (4), 266 pp. 12mo. Modern half calf, gilt lettering to spine, marbled boards, top edge gilt, uncut. Martin & Walter 23884; Tourneux, iv, 21736. First edition, very rare. Jean-Sylvain Bailly, scientist and politician (1736-1793). He was president of the National Assembly and mayor of Paris. Bailly set up an observatory in the upper story of the Louvre's south gallery and began to make observations of the comets and the planets Mars and Venus. His successes brought him admission to the prestigious Académie des Sciences in 1763. In 1771 Bailly published a masterful dissertation in which he explored a new theory on the satellites of Jupiter. Bailly surfaced as the spokesman for the Third Estate and when the Third Estate retired to the tennis court Bailly led the assembly in taking the famous oath that created the National Assembly. Bailly remained firm in his belief that the "nation when assembled cannot be given orders". He was later found guilty as responsible for the Champ de Mars massacre and executed. - Ex libris Bibliothèque Paul Lacombe on front paste-down, printed in 25 copies only, and printed on "papier vélin."