Annuaire pour l'an 1842,

Paris: Bachelier,, 1842. Presentation copy of the second edition, issued shortly after the first, inscribed by Arago on the title page: "James Watt, de la part de son ami F. Arago" ("James Watt, from his friend, F. Arago"). The recipient was James Watt Junior (1769-1848), engineer and son of the renowned Scottish inventor of the same name for whom Arago, with Watt Junior's aid, wrote his complimentary Historical Eloge, read at the Academy of Sciences in 1834 and published in 1839. Upon the death of James Watt Senior in 1819 his son took possession of his papers, and therefore when, in 1833, Arago was directed to write his Historical Eloge for Watt, he contacted Watt Junior for biographical details of the great scientist's life. The two men struck up a lively correspondence and in autumn of 1833 Arago visited with Watt for a tour of England and Scotland. Watt Junior had spent several years in France in the 1790s and consequently, despite their difference in age, the two shared both academic interests and friends, both also being Freemasons. They remained in contact, this gift being a charming example of their continued friendship. The French astronomer and scientist, François Arago (1786-1853), published these annuaires from the mid-1820s until his death. The present volume features an extensive notice on the life and works of James Watt Senior's contemporary, friend, and colleague Sir William Herschel (1738-1822), brother of fellow astronomer Caroline Herschel, who discovered Uranus in 1781. Arago may well have called upon Watt Junior when writing the present account to make reference to the extensive correspondence between the two men. Duodecimo (137 x 83 mm). Charts and tables, and 55 pp. of publisher's advertisements at end. Finely bound in near-contemporary brown calf, titles in gilt direct to spine, floral motifs in gilt to spine, boards with blind-stamped floral decorations within single gilt fillet frame, floral motifs to turn-ins in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, green silk page-marker. A touch rubbed, light foxing throughout; a very good copy.