Le Grand Livre de l’Astronomie by Ian Ridpath
This large-format French astronomy book combines astronomical photographs, artists’ illustrations and explanatory diagrams in an illustrated volume dating to 1978. Written by Ian Ridpath, it presents the sky, planets, stars and wider universe through the visual language of its period.
The cover shows a large radio telescope beneath a coloured evening sky. Pale blue lettering gives the title a strong graphic presence. Inside, dark astronomical scenes alternate with white pages of diagrams and French explanatory text.
Planets, Stars and Galaxies
The contents divide the book into four main subjects: sky observation, planets, the Sun and stars, and galaxies and the universe. Each section uses illustrations alongside text to explain its subject. The generous page format gives the images considerable impact.
Photographed openings include diagrams of Earth, eclipses and planetary relationships. Another spread illustrates stages in solar system formation. A historical cosmological image adds contrast to the cleaner scientific graphics on the facing page.
A Jupiter image appears beside an artist’s view of Saturn above a rocky landscape. This imagined planetary scene is an illustration, not a photograph taken from a moon’s surface. Elsewhere, bright astronomical objects stand out against densely populated star fields.
French Edition and Publisher
The title page identifies the book as “Le Grand Livre de l’Astronomie” by Ian Ridpath. Éditions Princesse is named beneath the author. The jacket flap carries a publisher’s catalogue and the statement “Printed in Hong Kong.”
This French-language edition offers a period perspective rather than a current astronomy reference. Its appeal lies in the combination of science writing and illustrated presentation. The photographs and painted scenes show different ways of representing the universe on the printed page.
Large-Format Hardcover
The black hardcover retains its glossy illustrated dust jacket. Coated pages carry colour images, diagrams and multi-column text. The volume contains 95 pages and measures approximately 32 × 34 × 2 cm.
The format suits browsing at a desk or displaying among illustrated science books. Its radio telescope cover also makes a striking visual focal point. Inside, the changing balance of dark space imagery and white diagram pages keeps the presentation varied.
Condition
Good vintage condition overall, with rubbing, edge wear and corner wear to the dust jacket. A chipped area with small loss is visible at one spine end. The hardcover boards remain intact, with wear at the edges.
Interior pages are generally clean and bright, with vivid colour images and readable text. Close photographs show the page block and inner spine construction. The dust jacket is included.
Key Details
Title: Le Grand Livre de l’Astronomie
Author: Ian Ridpath
Publisher: Éditions Princesse
Date: 1978
Language: French
Printing origin: Hong Kong
Format: Black hardcover with illustrated dust jacket
Pages: 95, on coated paper
Illustrations: Astronomical photographs, artists’ illustrations and scientific diagrams
Subjects: Sky observation, planets, the Sun, stars, galaxies and the universe
Dimensions: Approximately 32 × 34 × 2 cm
Condition: Good vintage condition with jacket wear and a chipped spine end
SKU: 2C178
Why It’s Special
This volume brings together the explanatory graphics and dramatic space imagery of late-1970s illustrated publishing. Its large pages give both diagrams and planetary scenes room to breathe. A distinctive addition to a collection of vintage science and astronomy books.
