28166. ABERCROMBIE, JOHN.: The Complete Kitchen Gardener, And, Hot-Bed Forcer; With the thorough practical management of Hot-Houses, Fire-Walls, and Forcing Houses, and the improved modern culture of the Pinery-Stoves, and Pine-Apples, etc. London, John Stockdale, 1789. 12mo, pp [12], 509, [1], [4, adverts], bound in contemporsry sheep, sometime plainly rebacked, corners a bit worn, front free endpaper replaced, rear free endpaper lacking, minor marginal tears to half title and title, but a good sound tight copy, FIRST EDITION, and apparently sole printing of this significant practical account of the home cook's cottage garden of the 18th Century. From the publication of his ever popular Complete gardener in 1767 Ambercrombie, a London publican, had assumed the role of gardener for the masses, and this highly practical work provided a succinct account of growing vegetables and fruit within a limited space. £185.00
28146. AQUARIA. RYMER-JONES, THOMAS.: The Aquarian Naturalist. - A Manual for the Sea-Side. London, John Van Voorst, 1858. 8vo, pp xviii, 525, [2, adverts + publisher's inserted catalogue from 1857], with 8 colour lithographed plates of multiple subjects, bound in original brown textured cloth, small ink mark to corner of last few leaves, a few gatherings carelessly opened, a little cracked to inner joints but a very good tight sound copy overall, FIRST EDITION; like the home fern garden, the domestic aquarium had great appeal to the Victorian middle classes, its cultivation extensively set out in this large handbook which combines scientific accuracy with an entertaining approach to collecting specimens at the seaside. This, of course, was much more available at the time, before pollution and modern coastal development destroyed the natural habitat of small sea creatures. £65.00
27985. BEVERIDGE, WILLIAM.: Institutionum Chronologicarum Libri Duo. Una cum totidem Arithmetices Chronologicae Libellis. Venice, Baptista Pasquale, 1738. 8vo, pp [16], 341, [1], [4, adverts], title in red and black, bound in contemporary vellum, gilt, minor cracks or soiling, minor marginal foxing, but a very good copy, FIRST VENICE EDITION, in fact the fourth or fifth printing after the two London editions. Beveridge's most interesting mathematical work explaining the chronological systems of various nations of the world, including accounts of systems of the Romans, Hebrews, Sumarians, Greeks, Arabs, Persians etc and employing some unusual typeface examples of their numbering systems. First published in 1669 this Venice printing testifies to the works European interest, as well the Venice typographer's range of fonts. In his introduction the printer Pasquale compares his edition to a German printing of 1734 and claims additions not in previous printings. £110.00
27984. BLANE, SIR GILBERT.: Elements of Medical Logick, illustrated by Practical Proofs and Examples. The Second Edition with Large Additions, Particularly in the Practical Part. London, for Thomas and George Underwood, 1821. 8vo, pp [8], 280, uncut in original boards, spine paper chipped at foot, upper board detached, else a good unsophisticated copy, SECOND EDITION, THE WINDSOR COPY, with the 1948 Chapter Library cancel stamp [from the post 1692 'cull'], inscribed on the endpaper 'From the Author' and with an additional manuscript note 'With thanks acknowledges the Rect of this book. J.G LT, Oct 2nd 1821.' Sir Gilbert Blane's attempted prognostication upon medical diagnosis and treatment - that of Yellow Fever as well general health within the Royal Navy being his pet subject - first appeared in a rather shorter version in 1819 during the regency of George IV who certainly needed the advice. This second expanded edition was dedicated to him as King, to whose library at Windsor this copy was sent - and acknowledged by, one assumes, the librarian at that time. £45.00
27979. BREWSTER, SIR DAVID.: Letters on Natural Magic, addressed to Sir Walter Scott. London, John Murray, 1842. 12mo, pp viii, 351, [1], 84 text diagrams, 2 moveable flaps, original printed fawn linen cloth, FIFTH EDITION. Issued first in 1832, part of Murray's Family Library, it was reissued several times with only change of date on title-page. It is rare, however, to find an example in the original printed binding as fine as this one. £60.00
28212. BRISTOL WATER. RANDOLPH, GEORGE.: An Enquiry into the Medicinal Virtues of Bristol-Water: and the Indication of Cure which it answers. London, R Baldwin, 1750. 8vo, pp [8], 176, possibly lacking an advert leaf at the end [and if so like other copies], bound in contemporary calf, rebacked in slightly paler calf, spine with raised bands and red label, a neat clean and well restored copy which retains the original endpapers with 1759 ownership of Elizabeth Raymond, SECOND EDITION, though not so stated, an expansion of a work printed at Oxford in 1745, giving a historical introduction as well as medicinal summary on the then fashionable subject of Bristol-water, and its properties, rivalling, it is suggested, those of Bath. Though evidently popular at the time, and dedicated to no less than Edward Wilmot, the King's physician, there were no further printings. Randolph's study concludes with a chemical analysis based upon experimental science, which was, perhaps, only temporarily convincing. £85.00
23121. EMBANKING. JOHNSTONE, JOHN.: A Systematic Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Draining Land, &c. . containing hints and directions for the culture and improvement of bog, moss, moor . the whole illustrated by plans and sections. Edinburgh University Press, 1834. 4to, pp xi, [1], 250 [including 'postscript'], with 25 finely hand-colored plates including 3 folding, uncut in original linen backed boards with paper label to upper board, slightly rubbed and dust-soiled at edges, neatly respined in cloth, internally sound and clean, THIRD EDITION, the scarce coloured issue, also issued in uncoloured state, and usually found thus. One of the most influential works on drainage and embankment from the early 19th Century., first published in 1797, this the only issue with hand-coloured plates which are very carefully executed. £350.00
27983. GEOFFROY, ETIENNE FRANCOIS.: A Treatise on the Fossil, Vegetable, and Animal Substances, That are made use of in Physick. Containing the History and Descriptions......the proper Method of Discovering the Nature of Medicines....Translated from a Manuscript copy...by G Douglas. London, W Innys and R Manby; T Woodward, C Davis, 1736. 8vo, pp xxiv, 387, [13, index], bound in contemporary unlettered calf, spine with raised bands, rubbed and worn at spine ends and corners, free endpapers removed, tiny corner tear to the title page else a clean sound copy internally, FIRST EDITION, an externally worn but honest copy; apparently the sole printing, taken from a curious French manuscript extolling the virtues, with precise details of preparation and use, for a variety of medicines derived from fossil, organic and non-organic geological sources. This rather original approach does not seem to engendered much traction within the English medical fraternity for whom materia medica was becoming an increasingly lucrative commercial prospect at this time - though many of the vegetable substances would have been familiar to British herbalists at least in similar forms. Contemporary manuscript comments on the book on the lower paste-down endpaper suggest that Geoffrey's ideas were not by any means universally accepted. £350.00
27814. HARRINGTON, THOMAS.: Science Improved or the Theory of the Universe. Comprehending a Rational System of the most useful as well as Entertaining Parts of Natural and Experimental Philosophy. London, for the Author, sold by S Crowder [and 2 others], 1774. 4to, pp [2], ii, [5], iv-v, [1], 5-174, [2, adverts[, with engraved frontispiece and 5 plates including double page map of the hemispheres, numerous engravings in text, some full page, diagrams and tables, bound in contemporary full calf, red label, boards detached, the lower board bent and cracked, internally with light waterstains but generally sound and clean, with damage to the moveable volvelles as described below, FIRST EDITION, a very rare copy complete but for one volvelle to the Longitude Dial at the front, lacking one part of it, but with three others present but loose, and some damage to the very complex moveable Planisphere plate. A very pretentious scientific study of cosmology intended for 'youth of both sexes' involving much inscrutable complexity as well as poetry and theological discourse. Harrington's work was mercilessly torn to pieces at great length in the Critical Review in 1774, which talks of 'jumble and confusion', calls the work 'reprehenmsible' and written by 'one of those volatile young men...' , warning the author not to publish the second volume which he advertises on the final advertisement leaf. Indeed Harrington listened, it appears, and published nothing else; but the dedication to the Prince of Wales was clearly an attempt, unsuccessfully one assumes, to garner royal patronage. Clearly a work of considerable rarity, ESTC records only 4 copies UK and 5 USA. A copy was sold in 2004 by Sotheby's as part of the Macclesfield Library. £450.00
27982. KEELING, JAMES HURD.: Quaero. Some Questions in Matter, Energy, Intelligence and Evolution. London, 'For Private Circulation', Printed by Taylor and Francis, 1898. 8vo, pp [8], 172, with 4 colour plates, original cloth, gilt, a fine copy, FIRST EDITION; a privately printed collection of 'pseudoscientific' essays by this Sheffield Professor of Gynaecology who dabbled in theories of Darwinian evolution and the philosophy of sensation. Despite a very distinguished career throughout the 19th Century as a surgeon it is unlikely that Keeling's ideas received much notice as apparent from an appended note to his preface. His illustrated work, expensively produced at his own expense, demonstrates, however, thought currents in late 19th Century science. £25.00
27977. LEWIS, AGNES G.: John Ralfs: an Old Cornish Botanist. Torquay, Andrew Uredale, 1907. 8vo, pp 17, [3, including list of subscribers, portrait, original pictorial cloth, a little lose, but a good copy with the bookplate of George T Harris, FIRST EDITION, a very scarce reminiscence of the eminent 19th Century West Country botanist and microscopist. £20.00
27986. MAGIC LANTERN. WRIGHT, LEWIS.: Optical Projection. A Treatise on the Use of the Lantern in Exhibition and Scientific Demonstration. London, Longmans Green, 1891. 8vo, pp viii, [2], 426, [2], 232 text illustrations, original blue cloth, minor foxing, else a fine clean copy, FIRST EDITION, the most popular of all technical treatises on the magic lantern, as applied to its scientific and educational rather than entertainment uses. It went through many printings well into the 20th Century but this first edition is scarce especially in this condition. It is superbly illustrated throughout and provides the best general account of the apparatus. £60.00
27990. PHELPS, ROBERT: An Elementary Treatise on Optics: intended chiefly to elucidate the principles of the Construction of Telescopes, and some other Optical Instruments. Cambridge, E Johnson, 1835. 8vo, pp vii, [1], 224, diagrams in text, bound, without half title in modern boards, a very good copy, FIRST EDITION; an early work, written when 27 and just two years after his graduation from Trinity, by this eminent Cambridge theologian who would go on to become Master of Sidney Sussex College, far from his original scientific leanings. £30.00
28164. SMELLIE, WILLIAM.: A Collection of Cases and Observations in Midwifery. By William Smellie, M.D. To Illustrate His Former Treatise, or First Volume, on that Subject. Vol II. [ -Vol III]. London, D Wilson, and T Durham, 1754/1764. 8vo, pp xvi, 512:viii, 544, [8], 1 folding plate in volume 3 illustrating 2 organ views, bound in contemporary calf, not quite matching, one red label, rubbed and slightly worn, upper board of volume 2 detached, this volume lacking free endpapers, else sound copies for rebacking, FIRST EDITION OF BOTH VOLUMES, comprising complete the two volumes of cases that Smellie added to his groundbreaking text book of midwifery which forms the first volume, not present here, although all volumes were issued separately. They are suitable binding copies to be added to the original work if rebacked to match and quite desirable in first edition. . £400.00
27824. STEAM. GALLOWAY, ELIJAH AND LUKE HERBERT.: History and Progress of the Steam Engine : with a practical investigation of its structure and application...to which is added an extensive appendix, containing minute descriptions of all the various improved boilers, the constituent parts .. London, Thomas Kelly, 1837. 8vo, pp 863, [1, adverts], wood-engraved frontispiece and extra wood-engraved title page circa 200 text wood-engravings, neatly bound in modern grey boards with paper label, minor soiling to title and prelims, later name on title, but a very good sound copy, EARLY EDITION, the first really comprehensive technical survey of steam and its industrial applications, expanded by Luke Herbert from Galloway's 1826 original. It remains a standard text for the early development of this technology, including railways. £75.00
27975. THOMSON, SYLVANUS.: Light Visible and Invisible. A Series of Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, at Christmas 1896. London, Macmillan, 1897. 8vo, pp xii, 294, [2, adverts], uncut, 158 text illustrations, original blue cloth, spine gilt dulled, binding is somewhat bubbled and bumped at corners, but sound and internally clean, FIRST EDITION; though, of course, a popular account of recent scientific developments a significant publication nonetheless, the work of one of the most eminent electrical engineers of his time. 'Thomson's particular gift was in his ability to communicate difficult scientific concepts in a clear and interesting manner.' In these lectures he introduced the work of Rontgen to a wider audience than the scientific community, having given the first public demonstration in England of X Rays the same year. Several plates in the present work are devoted to photographic images of the body which must have amazed the general readership of the times. £60.00
27978. TYNDALL, JOHN.: Sound. A Course of Eight Lectures Delivered at The Royal Institution of Great Britain. London, Longmans, Green, 1867. 8vo, pp xiii, [1], 335, [32, publishers' catalogue dated April 1868] portrait frontispiece, 169 text diagrams and wood-engravings, original blue blind-stamped cloth, slightly rubbed and chaffed at spine ends, but a very good clean copy, FIRST EDITION, written in the wake of the recent German publications of Helmholtz, an early classic of lucid popular presentation of science in England through the medium of public lecture. An influential and fundamental treatise on acoustics, which would become a standard text for the future generation. £45.00