8vo. xv, [1], 394pp. [6]. With three lunar photographs by Rutherfurd, three large folding astronomical diagrams, a further 20 engraved plates, of which 19 diagrams, and one woodcut illustration. Original publisher's red cloth, stamped in gilt and blind. Rubbed and marked, with light staining to upper board, surface wear to extremities, bumping to spine and corners. Light spotting to endpapers, very occasional spotting to text. A presentation copy, with the author's presentation book-label to FEP.

A presentation copy of a detailed study on Earth's moon by astronomer Richard A. Proctor (1837-1888), most recognised for producing an early map of Mars in 1867, and subsequently lending his name to a crater on the Red Planet. Achieving respectable literary standing through his scientific works, he later founded the magazine Knowledge and contributed the articles on astronomy in the American Cyclopaedia and the ninth edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

The work is notable for featuring three lunar photographs taken by Lewis Morris Rutherfurd (1816-1892), groundbreaking American astrophotographer. Rutherfurd invented several key pieces of photographic equipment, including a micrometre for measuring photographs, and the first telescope designed for astrophotography. His use of a specialised diffraction grating to make spectroscopic studies allowed him to identify several defined spectral classes of stars; his photographs were donated upon death to Columbia University, of which he was a trustee.