8vo. xiv, [2], 432pp. With a half-title, a folding lithographed frontispiece, a further five lithographed plates, three Woodburytype plates, and 94 woodcut illustrations in the text. Original publisher's pictorial green cloth, stamped in gilt and black. Lightly rubbed, spind dulled, a trifle cocked. Initial six gatherings dampstained at fore-edge, frontispiece torn at gutter. Presentation copy, inked inscription to head of half-title: 'With the Author's Compliments 13/1/83'.

A presentation copy of the first edition of the Rev. Edmund Ledger's (1841-1913) popular collection of astronomical lessons, with each major planet in the solar system, as well as Earth's moon, receiving at least one chapter to itself. The book is comprised of 15 lectures, first read throughout 1881 and 1882 at Gresham College, London, where Ledger served as professor of astronomy between 1875 and 1908; his lectures were said to have drawn large crowds.

The compilation received a glowing review in the July 6th 1883 issue of Science, where the editors noted that: 'It is narrower in its scope than Professor Newcomb's Popular astronomy, but easier reading, and fuller of detail...it is accurate and clear, and the style is unpretentious and agreeable.'