The Moon Hoax; or, A Discovery that the Moon has a Vast Population of Human Beings. Illustrated with a View of the Moon, as Seen by Lord Rosse’s Telescope. New York: William Gowans, 1859.

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The Moon Hoax; or, A Discovery that the Moon has a Vast Population of Human Beings. Illustrated with a View of the Moon, as Seen by Lord Rosse’s Telescope. New York: William Gowans, 1859.
The  famous “Moon Hoax,” originally published in 1835 as a satirical series in the New York Sun and later reprinted in pamphlet form. With a striking woodcut frontispiece of the moon, dated 1856, opposite the title page. Locke’s spoof—attributing lunar discoveries to Sir John Herschel and the massive telescope of Lord Rosse—claimed to reveal bat-like humanoids and other fantastic creatures on the moon, and remains one of the most influential early works of American pseudoscience satire.

Octavo (approx. 9 x 6 in). vi,[7]–63 pp. ; quarter black cloth over marbled boards, gilt spine title “Moon Hoax.” Frontispiece and title page loose; moderate wear to spine and edges; text toned but clean. Small ownership stamp of “H. S. Hewitt, S. Lib’y” on title page & 1 text page; 1930’s purchase notation on inside back cover.  

Related terms : Moon Hoax, Lord Rosse, Richard Adams Locke, William Gowans, pseudoscience, 19th century astronomy, American satire, illustrated pamphlet, hoaxes and forgeries