FRANCE. Joseph Jerome Le François de Lalande/Literary Society of Bourg-en-Bresse Bronze Medal, 1783. NGC MS-62 Brown.
By Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux. Diameter: 41mm. Obverse: Bust of Lalande facing left, perimeter legend JOS. HIER. FRANÇOIS DE LA LANDE N. BURGI 1732. above; signature GATTEAUX. below bust; Reverse: six-line legend with date ASTRONOMO / ET / CIVI / SOCIETAS LITTERARIA / BURGENSIS / 1783. Though he studied law, a chance encounter with astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle ignited a lifelong passion for astronomy. His mentor and protégé resigned his chair of astronomy at the Collège de France in favor of Lalande who then held it for 46 years. A crater on the moon is named for him. This medal commemorates Lalande's re-founding of the Literary Society of Bourg-en-Bresse (the city of his birth) in 1783. This lustrous example displays a deep mahogany hue with splashes of darker toning that accentuate the design elements. Attractive.
Margolis had a few rather overt interests in his collecting of medallic art. One such theme was that of medals pertaining to man's earliest pursuits to conquer the heavens in the form of ballooning. The European exploits of the late 18th century are contained here across many different country categories. Also quite noticeable was his interest in the medallic art of Jewish engravers, such as Jakob Abraham and his son, Abraham Abramson, among numerous others. Across this selection of medals, these themes and topics will become obvious, adding further dimensions to the already intense focus with which Margolis pursued his collecting.
From the Richard Margolis Collection.

Estimate: $75.00 - $150.00