great!
This book and its companion volume 1 (Eastern Astrolabes) are first of all, beautiful. Nice coffee table books (especially if your guests are astronomers!). Details of various types of astrolabes, built in Europe and in the Adler Planetarium collection. There is an overview of the theory but don't expect a detailed explanation of how to use them or details of the theory - for that get a copy of "The Planispheric Astrolabe," National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, which makes the perfect companion. These two books assume you know that part.
