London, Paris & New York: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, 1890. First edition. Hardback in more recent attractive three quarters burgundy morocco, with marbled boards. New endpapers. Illustrated with 50 colour chromolithographic plates (including frontispiece) - all by J.W. Ludlow. Many in text b/w illustrations. Boards in very good condition. Contents in good clean condition with a little light foxing to extremities of a few pages. Undated, but circa 1890. viii, 392 pp. 280 x 220 mm (11 x 8¾ inches).

. Première édition. Relié plus récent en joli maroquin trois quarts bordeaux, avec plats marbrés. Nouvelles gardes. Illustré de 50 planches chromolithographiques en couleurs (y compris le frontispice) - toutes de J.W. Ludlow. Nombreuses illustrations n/b dans le texte. Planches en très bon état. Sommaire en bon état de propreté avec une petite rousseur légère aux extrémités de quelques pages. Sans date, mais vers 1890. viii, 392 pp. 280 x 220 mm

London: Griffith & Farran, 1865. Fourth edition (published in the first year as the First Edition) of this scarce work debunking Spiritualism and those who claimed to see ghosts. Through the use of 16 illustrations (13 hand coloured) the author shows how the illusion of seeing a ghost can be created. The "List of Plates" identifies what colour illusion a plate will create. "Plate II. this black figure will give a white spectre." etc. Blue boards with text (in ten different fonts !!) and a spectral figure looking particularly Scrooge Like floating across the front board. The rear board has adverts for Griffith and Farran books recently published. Red cloth spine. A touch of darkening and some rubbing (with two areas of loss to the rear panel). A couple of creases and edgewear to the boards. Title page has a small closed tear (repaired with archival tape). The rest of the book is clean, with a little handling to the pages. A small An attractive copy of a scarce work. 11, XVI. pp. 250 by 200mm (9¾ by 7¾ inches).

. Quatrième édition (publiée la première année en tant que première édition) de cet ouvrage rare démystifiant le spiritisme et ceux qui prétendaient voir des fantômes. Grâce à l'utilisation de 16 illustrations (13 coloriées à la main), l'auteur montre comment l'illusion de voir un fantôme peut être créée. La "Liste des planches" identifie l'illusion de couleur qu'une assiette créera. "Planche II. cette figure noire donnera un spectre blanc." etc. Des panneaux bleus avec du texte (en dix polices différentes !!) et une figure spectrale ressemblant particulièrement à Scrooge flottant sur le panneau avant. Le panneau arrière contient des publicités pour les livres de Griffith et Farran récemment publiés Dos en toile rouge. Une touche d'assombrissement et quelques frottements (avec deux zones de perte sur le panneau arrière). Quelques plis et usures sur les bords des plats. La page de titre a une petite déchirure fermée (réparée avec du ruban adhésif). Le reste du livre est propre, avec un peu de manipulation dans les pages. Un petit Un bel exemplaire d'un ouvrage rare. 11, XVI. pp. 250 x 200 mm.

Edinburgh: Mundell and Son, 1797. Title continues: "Together with observations on hollow and surface draining in general. The whole illustrated by explanatory engravings." Quarter leather with marbled boards. gilt title on label to spine. Owner's bookplate to the inside board. Scarce First Edition. 16 engraved plates (2 folding) - Complete. The binding (later re-back) has been done a little tight, so there is some breaking to the first gather. One of the plates has scuffing to the surface (not particularly noticeable). One leaf of "Conclusion." xv, 182 pp. Large 4to. 270 by 220mm (10¾ by 8¾ inches).

Johnstone (d. 1838), an Edinburgh surveyor, was promised a grant of £1000 by the recently formed Board of Agriculture to provide a detailed and accurate account of the system of land drainage developed by Joseph Elkington (d. 1806), a farmer in Warwickshire and designer of land drainage systems. Elkington was known to be in poor health, and it was feared that knowledge of his innovations might perish with him. "About 1763 Elkington inherited a farm at Princethorpe, where some years later he discovered, at Long Harold Pits along a geological fault, the method of land drainage for which he is remembered. He discovered by accident, after losing more than 800 sheep to liver rot, how some strata were porous and pervious to water while others were not, and that he could locate the former with the auger used in exploring for marl and coal."-ODNB

Brünn [Brno]: Joseph George Trassler, 1801. Volume 75 of this encyclopedia. Engraved frontis and 67 engraved plates to the rear, several folding. (So complete). This volume contains the entries from "Passion" to "Linen" and many of the plates have wonderful images of people expressing different moods in the style of Lavater. Hardback, in paper covered boards (age uncertain but likely mid 20th Century) Original label pasted to the spine. Clean and tidy. Internally clean and tidy throughout, a little creasing to the edges of the folding plates, but overall in excellent condition. Brünn, the second city of the Czech republic, was at this time, the capital of Moravia, and had a German speaking majority amongst its population. VIII, 800 pp + plates.

. Famous economic encyclopedia written by a total of six authors. The Berlin doctor Johann Georg Krünitz (1728-1796), who himself designed the first 73 volumes, gave the name to and initiated the ambitious undertaking. After his death, the work was continued first by the lawyer and composer Friedrich Jakob Floerke (1759-1799), and by his brother, the botanist Heinrich Gustav Floerke (1764-1835), volume 124-225 compiled by Johann Wilhelm David Korth (1783- 1861),

Paris / Amsterdam: Simon BENARD / Pierre MORTIER, 1691. Two volumes bound as one. A second edition of the "Voiage du Monde de Descartes" bound in with a First Thus (Amsterdam) copy of the "Suite du voyage du Monde". Unfortunately the First volume lacks the double plate of the Moon. It contains the 18 woodcuts showing celestial systems. The second volume contains 12 woodcuts. Original full leather binding with gilt details to the spine. (Somewhat faded to the spine). The binding is cracking to the hinges with some nicking, but is still holding together. Internally the books are clean and tidy with a little darkening and a couple of isolated foxing spots only. A couple of contemporary inked notes to the inside board. [xiv], 308., [viii], 248. pp. 160 x 100 mm (6¼ x 4 inches). The first volume is scarce in early editions. At the time of writing this description, there are no copies of the "Suite du voyage" available.

These works were the written by the Jesuit Priest, Father Gabriel Daniel (1649-1728), known for his activity as a historiographer and for his History of France. It relates Imaginary journey around the Cartesian universe, composed in the form of satire in the company of Father Mersenne, the author mainly fights the system of vortices. The debate on the question of the Void and Celestial Mechanics was one of the most important of the second half of the 17th century, and all the scientists and metaphysicians of the time brought their point of view to it. Daniel was opposed to Cartesian philosophy, and these treatise are mainly aimed at attacking his Treatise on Light (Published in 1664).

. Deux volumes reliés comme un seul. Une deuxième édition du «Voiage du Monde de Descartes» reliée avec un premier exemplaire de Ainsi (Amsterdam) de la «Suite du voyage du monde» Malheureusement, le premier volume MANQUE la double plaque de la Lune. Il contient les 18 gravures sur bois montrant les systèmes célestes. Le deuxième volume contient 12 gravures sur bois. Reliure d'origine plein cuir avec détails dorés au dos. (Un peu fané à la colonne vertébrale). La reliure craque sur les charnières avec quelques entailles, mais tient toujours ensemble. À l'intérieur, les livres sont propres et bien rangés avec un peu d'assombrissement et quelques taches de rousseur isolées seulement. Quelques notes encrées contemporaines sur le tableau intérieur. [xiv], 308., [viii], 248. pp. 160 x 100mm. Le premier volume est rare dans les premières éditions. Au moment de la rédaction de cette description, il n'y a pas d'exemplaires de la « Suite du voyage » disponibles.

Ces ouvrages ont été écrits par le Prêtre Jésuite, le Père Gabriel DANIEL (1649-1728), connu pour son activité d'historiographe et pour son Histoire de France. Il relate Voyage imaginaire autour de l'univers cartésien, composé sous forme de satire en compagnie du Père Mersenne, l'auteur combat principalement le système des tourbillons. Le débat sur la question du Vide et de la Mécanique Céleste fut l'un des plus importants de la seconde moitié du XVIIe siècle, et tous les scientifiques et métaphysiciens de l'époque y apportèrent leur point de vue. Daniel était opposé à la philosophie cartésienne, et ces traités visent principalement à attaquer son Traité de la lumière (publié en 1664).

Dartford: J. & E. Hall, 1954. An attractive copy of this 62 page booklet outlining the history and apprenticeship opportunities at J. & E. Hall in Dartford. Soft cover with photograph tipped onto front cover. Black and white photographs throughout and a colour folding diagram of the apprenticeship scheme to the rear. Owner's signature to title page. Full of information about the company, and engineering generally. A leaflet giving key facts and a humorously detailed set of directions to their offices is loosely inserted. Founded in 1785, the firm originally built steam engines, and developed into offering escalators, lifts and refrigerated units for ships. In 1954 they had provided 65% of the world's units according to Lloyd's register, and 93% of British registered ships had a Hall refrigerated unit installed. The firm is still operating today. At the brochure states, "Most boys are born with a natural instinct for engineering. " 235 by 160mm (9¼ by 6¼ inches).

Berne: The author. First Edition. Two parts in one volume, published in July and September 1818. Recent red three quarters leather with gilt titles and red boards. Clean and tidy without major flaws. Original blue paper wrapper bound in. To the front cover paper is written "Par l'auteur" presumably by Seringe. One plate and one folding table (complete.) Rough cut page edges. A little foxing to the pages only. VI + 1 ff. + 244 pp. Text in French. 210 x 130 mm (8¼ by 5 inches). Nicolas Charles Seringe, first Teacher at the Academy of Bern then Professor of Botany and member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Lyon wrote a work with the exact description, classification and history of flowers. He sought to avoid scientific language, and to arrange the objects in an easy order, through which one can easily learn about plants, how to propagate them and finally how to use them. Première édition. Deux volumes en un seul volume, parus en juillet et septembre 1818. Cuir rouge trois quarts récent avec titres dorés et plats rouges. Propre et bien rangé sans défauts majeurs. Couverture en papier bleu d'origine reliée. Sur le papier de la couverture avant est écrit "Par l'auteur" probablement par Seringe. Une plaque et une table pliante (complète.) Bords de page coupés grossièrement. Un peu de rousseur sur les pages uniquement. VI + 1 sqq. + 244 pp. 210 par 130 mm
Nicolas Charles Seringe, d'abord Professeur à l'Académie de Berne puis Professeur de Botanique et membre de l'Académie Royale des Sciences et des Arts de Lyon a écrit un ouvrage avec la description exacte, la classification et l'histoire des fleurs. Il a cherché à éviter le langage scientifique et à ranger les objets dans un ordre facile, à travers lequel on peut facilement en apprendre davantage sur les plantes, comment les propager et enfin comment les utiliser.

Bononiae: ex Typographia Lelii a Vulpe. The first five full volumes in this series, containing: Volume 1) Printed 1748 (reprint) [viii], 1-645pp Contains engraved title and 9 full page or folding plates. In two parts. The Commentaria (p1-297) and the Opuscula (301-645). This second part includes the important treatise by Eustachii Manfredd (p599-641 and 2 of the plates) entitled 'De novissimis circa fixorum siderum errores observationibus'. This confirmed James Bradley's hypothesis about astronomical phenomena, and together they provided the first evidence of the Earth's movement around the Sun (Ie the first scientific confirmation of Copernicus' work). (2) Vol. II Part I. printed 1745 (1st edition - possibly later impression as errate shows amendments to August 1745). [vi], 1-506 [ii]. pp Engraved title. Commentaria. No plates (none called for). (3) Vol. II part II. Printed 1746. (1st edition errata to July 27th 1746). Viii, 1-406 [ii]. pp Engraved title and 24 engraved plates (complete), (including some lovely plates of the natural world, and some muscle and artery illustrations). This volume sees the first printing of the first volume of 'Opusculorum ad res physicas et mathematicas pertinentium,' introducing hyperbolic functions. In this paper, Riccati derives the law of composition of forces by using the principle of virtual velocities. (4) Vol II part III. printed printed 1747. (1st edition, errata to August 1747). viii, 1-568, [ii]. pp. Engraved title and 15 plates (mainly of mathematical or astronomical topics). 95) Vol. III. printed 1755. (1st edition. Errata to June 1754). [vi], 1-509, [i]. pp. Engraved title. Dedication to Pope Benedict XIV, with a rather lovely vignette initial to this. 13 engraved plates including mathematics, natural history and anatomy. All five volumes are in full calf, with gilt titles and decoration to the spines. Each volume is complete (although there were to be later volumes added to this set until 1791). Internally, each volume is in very good condition, with sound binding. Light to moderate foxing to the pages (including the plates). This set belonged to Georges Cuvier, the celebrated French naturalist, and his stamp appears to the title page of each volume. Cuvier is sometimes referred to as the "founding father of Palaeontology" An opponent of early theories of Evolution (long before Darwin's) he believed that the earth went through cyclical creation and periods of extinction. He identified and named Mastodons and other dinosaurs, and postulated that the Earth went through a period where it was dominated by reptiles. Baron Cuvier was was the director of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris intermittently between the years of 1808 and 1831. Each volume also has the discrete stamp of this museum, further reinforcing the provenance. No further library stamps through volumes.

. Les cinq premiers volumes complets de cette série, contenant : Volume 1) Imprimé en 1748 (réimpression) [viii], 1-645pp Contient un titre gravé et 9 planches à pleine page ou dépliantes. En deux parties. Les Commentaria (p1-297) et les Opuscula (301-645). Cette seconde partie comprend l'important traité d'Eustachii Manfredd (p599-641 et 2 des planches) intitulé "De novissimis circa fixorum siderum errores observationibus". Ce document confirme l'hypothèse de James Bradley sur les phénomènes astronomiques et, ensemble, ils fournissent la première preuve du mouvement de la Terre autour du Soleil (c'est-à-dire la première confirmation scientifique du travail de Copernic). (2) Vol. II Partie I. imprimé en 1745 (1ère édition - peut-être une impression plus tardive car l'errate montre des amendements au mois d'août 1745). [vi], 1-506 [ii]. pp Titre gravé. Commentaires. Pas de planches (aucune n'a été demandée). (3) Vol. II partie II. Imprimé en 1746. (1ère édition errata au 27 juillet 1746). Viii, 1-406 [ii]. pp Titre gravé et 24 planches gravées (complètes), (y compris quelques belles planches du monde naturel, et quelques illustrations de muscles et d'artères). Ce volume est la première impression du premier volume de 'Opusculorum ad res physicas et mathematicas pertinentium', qui présente les fonctions hyperboliques. Dans cet article, Riccati déduit la loi de composition des forces en utilisant le principe des vitesses virtuelles. (4) Vol II partie III. imprimé imprimé 1747. (1ère édition, errata à août 1747). viii, 1-568, [ii]. pp. Titre gravé et 15 planches (principalement des sujets mathématiques ou astronomiques). 95) Tome III. imprimé en 1755. (1ère édition. Errata à juin 1754). [vi], 1-509, [i]. pp. Titre gravé. Dédicace au Pape Benoît XIV, avec une jolie vignette initiale. 13 planches gravées comprenant des mathématiques, de l'histoire naturelle et de l'anatomie. Les cinq volumes sont en plein veau, avec des titres et des décorations dorés au dos. Chaque volume est complet (bien que des volumes ultérieurs aient été ajoutés à cet ensemble jusqu'en 1791). A l'intérieur, chaque volume est en très bon état, avec une reliure saine. Des rousseurs légères à modérées sont présentes sur les pages (y compris sur les planches). Cet ensemble a appartenu à Georges Cuvier, le célèbre naturaliste français, et son cachet apparaît sur la page de titre de chaque volume. Cuvier est parfois considéré comme le "père fondateur de la paléontologie". Opposant aux premières théories de l'évolution (bien avant celles de Darwin), il pensait que la Terre connaissait une création cyclique et des périodes d'extinction. Il a identifié et nommé des mastodontes et d'autres dinosaures, et a postulé que la Terre avait connu une période où elle était dominée par les reptiles. Le baron Cuvier a été directeur du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle à Paris par intermittence entre les années 1808 et 1831. Chaque volume porte également le cachet discret de ce musée, ce qui renforce encore la provenance. Aucun autre cachet de bibliothèque n'a été apposé sur les volumes.

London: J. Walthoe, D. Midwinter, A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch..et al, 1738. Second edition. Volume I only (of two). Full leather binding with gilt details and titles. The leather is a little rubbed and the gilt faded. Slight cracking to the hinge, but holding well. Complete with three engraved plates (two folding). All three of the engraved plates are found in this, the first of the two volumes. Figures 1 and 2 depict river locks; figure 3 depicts "An Engine to raise water with a chain of buckets." Engraved capitals and end pieces. Internally in good clean condition, in a good, tight condition. Owner's name to the head of the title page. iv, 428, 120 pp. 205 x 130 mm (8 x 5 inches).

John Ray was an English naturalist, widely regarded as one of the earliest of the English parson-naturalists, and the man with whom "the adventure of modern science begins".

New York & London: D. Van Nostrand & Sampson Low, Son & Co, 1861. Attractive first edition in original black blind stamped buckram with gilt titles to spine. The binding is quite rubbed to the front hinge with cracking to the spine edge. A little bumping. Small bookseller stamp from A. Franck in Paris to the inside paste down. Moderate foxing to the end papers, and light foxing, particularly to the edges of the rest of the book. The binding shows signs of having been re-sewn at some point to plate 17 - it would appear the block split. The repair is quite crude but only at this point and not affecting plate. Complete with all 77 engraved plates. Lovely Frontis engraving of a steam locomotive, "The Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works". Discrete library / owner's stamp to the title page shows that this belonged to the Chemins de Fer in Algeria. After the title and colophon, there is a full page railway map of Great Britain in 1858. Many of the engravings are very specific engine parts shown in full detail, others show whole locomotives. 192 pages + plates. 370 x 250 mm (14½ x 9¾ inches).