Autograph Letter Signed

Lilienthal, 1807. unbound. very good(+). Important A.L.S. "J.W. Bessel", 8vo. 2 pages, Lilienthal, December 10th 1807, in German, writing to fellow astronomer Carl Ludwig Harding who discovered Juno (a moon of Jupiter), concerning observational reports on Comet orbits that he is comparing with those reported by Olbers, which are included in this letter. He thanks Harding for sending along his map of comet Orbis and adds that observations of "their" comets are enclosed. Bessel stresses the point that the observations made with the second element (telescope) confirm the initial record. In a sadder note - he informs him that all members of Tienemann's staff (truncated) at the observatory have been arrested by the French. He alludes to the "heartbreaking" events at the facility in the recent past, i.e., the destruction of the observatory and its library by French soldiers. Condition: Letter is evenly toned with a minor chip at the lower right hand margin. Integral sheet is still attached with the usual wax seal tears. *Bessel is rare in any form and letters with scientific content almost never come to market. German astronomer and mathematician who determined reliable values when calculating the distance from the sun to another star by the method of parallax. (Inventory #: 287450)