Author: MAUNDER, E. Walter.
Title: The Indian Eclipse 1898. Report of the expeditions organized by the British Astronomical Association to observe the solar eclipse of 1898, January 22.
Description: London, Hazell Watson &c 1899. Tall octavo publisher's illustrated black cloth blocked in gilt (and a touch of red); xii,172pp, numerous photo illustrations, illustrations and diagrams through the text. Stamp of the Newcastle Upon Tyne Astronomical Society on the front fly. They were lent the book (according to a pencil note) by Lawrence Richardson in 1904 when the Society was founded, presumably they didn't just pinch it. ¶ An attractive book; chatty and personable travel adventures interspersed with technical reports and illustrated in much the same way. The Astronomical Society's expeditions (this was their second) were organised on 'Pickwickian' principles - volunteers paying their own way - which meant mixed teams of professionals and dedicated amateurs: men, women and children (or youths at least). Photography, of course, played a major part and I have read elsewhere (not in this book) that this was the expedition on which the Rev J.M. Bacon took the first moving pictures of an eclipse but the film mysteriously disappeared.

Keywords: science astronomy travel c19th India Asia sun