Finely engraved title-page (a trifle shaved at outer edge) & 675 woodcuts in the text. 11 p.l. (incl. engr. title), 1187 (i.e., 1185), [87] pp. Folio, cont. Dutch vellum over boards (upper joint with small split of 7 cm. at foot, minor pale dampstaining to first 20 leaves & last third of book), panelled in blind, central arabesque in blind to each cover, ties gone. Amsterdam: H. Laurentius, 1644.

First edition to be edited by Joannes Bodaeus à Stapel; it “is one of the best and most thoughtfully prepared of all the editions of Theophrastos.”–Hunt 240.

H.H. Bartlett wrote in... More

Two added engraved titles, 97 plates (many folding), and 287 engraved illus. & several woodcuts in the text. 14 p.l. (incl. added engraved title), 520, [4], 76, 119, [12] pp.; 12 p.l. (incl. added engraved title), 196, 116 pp.; 4 p.l., 228, [11] pp. Three vols. in two. Folio, cont. mottled calf (extremities a bit rubbed & worn), sides ruled in gilt, spines nicely gilt, black & red morocco lettering pieces on spines. Frankfurt am Main: J.D. Zunner, 1714-14-14.

First complete edition, comprising the second issue of Vol. I (1st: 1704) and first editions of Vols. II and III, printed... More

Two full-page engraved plates on one double-page sheet, two woodcut plates, & numerous woodcut diagrams in the text. Woodcut of Medici arms on titles which are printed in red & black. Two parts in one vol. 8 p.l., 154 pp.; 2 p.l., 154 pp., one leaf of errata. Folio, cont. vellum over boards (a bit of foxing). Florence: J. Cocchini, 1659.

First edition and a splendid copy of the author’s first book in which Viviani attempted a reconstruction of the important fifth book of Apollonius’ Conics, a text at that time lost. The Conics was in eight books, but only... More

15 folding lithographed plates (three handcolored). xvi, 631, [1] pp.; xiv, 1104 pp. Two vols. 8vo, cont. half-sheep & marbled boards (lower joint of Vol. I partly cracked but strong, minor foxing), spines gilt. Karlsruhe: C.T. Groos, 1829-32.

First edition of one of the most extensive introductions to mineralogy and geology of the period. Walchner (1799-1865), was professor at the University of Freiburg and, in 1825, was appointed professor of mineralogy, geology, and chemistry at the Polytechnic of Karlsruhe. He wrote many books and articles.

“Very scarce. A technical treatment of mineralogy designed to be sufficient for the isolated amateur... More

One folding engraved plate (some foxing) & seven printed tables (five in the text & two on a separate folding sheet). 2 p.l., 40 pp. Large 4to, orig. green patterned boards (some foxing). [Halle]: G. Haack, [1827].

First edition, and a very evocative association copy, of the rare Habilitationschrift by Wilhelm Weber (1804-91) on acoustics, specifically on the acoustic coupling of tongue and air cavity in reed organ pipes; his work in this area led, in a slightly roundabout way, to his close and enormously fruitful association with Gauss, which began in September of 1831. This copy belonged to Gauss... More

4 p.l., 27, [3] pp. Small 4to, attractive antique calf (title soiled & a little waterstained), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: W. du Gard for F. Coles, 1654.

“Third Edition Corrected and Enlarged.” Weston (1591-1652), canal builder and agriculturalist, while already having had considerable successful experience in farming in Surrey, made a series of observations on the agricultural methods of the Low Countries during his exile in Belgium in 1644-45, which changed English agriculture.

“Sir Richard’s account of Flemish husbandry was written about 1645, and addressed to his sons from abroad. This was circulated in manuscript... More

32 engraved plates (of which 8 are mezzotints & 2 are folding). Title printed in red & black. viii, 84, [4] pp. Large 4to, cont. calf (joints slightly cracked at ends), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: Printed for the Author, 1750.

First edition, and a fine and large copy, of a very remarkable book, famous for its influential theory of the Milky Way and for its beautiful, almost surreal, mezzotint plates. In this work, Wright (1711-86), explained the Milky Way as an optical effect caused by our immersion in a layer of stars. Wright also enunciated... More

Five engraved plates (three are folding) & one woodcut in the text. 1 p.l., xxiv, 539, [1] pp; 1 p.l., 416 pp. Two vols. 8vo, cont. speckled calf, flat spines gilt, red morocco lettering pieces on spines. London: H. Goldney for T. Cadell, 1780.

Second edition (the first edition appeared earlier in the same year) and a handsome set. This work “was well received at the time, and has since become a valuable source as one of the few accounts of conditions in Ireland at this time. Among other subjects Young had much to say on commercial policy and the... More

3 p.l., 482 pp. 8vo, cont. speckled calf (upper joint expertly repaired), single gilt fillet round sides, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: W. Nicoll, 1768.

“The second edition, corrected and enlarged” of Young’s first book. “The book supported the bounty on the export of corn and introduced some of his enduring themes: the cultivation of waste lands, enclosure as a preliminary to improvement, and the superiority of large farms.”–ODNB.

“The energy, the enthusiasm, the ambition and the insatiable curiosity of the youthful Arthur Young launched him…into a career of farm reporting (and later, of the administration... More

Two engraved plates. 4, vii, [1], 432 pp. 8vo, cont. polished tree calf, flat spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: W. Smith, 1802.

“Second edition, enlarged and improved” (1st ed.: 1801) of this compendium of agricultural advice extracted from various works including Marshall’s Rural Economy, Hunter’s Georgical Essays, and Curtis’s Practical Observations on the British Grasses.

Young (1741-1820), “was not only the best-known agricultural reformer and publicist of his time, with an international reputation, but also a figure of importance in the political and social issues of the day. He had an extraordinary capacity for work…In an... More

28 engraved plates (many are folding) & six folding printed tables. Four vols. 8vo, cont. polished calf (each lower joint with a slight crack, head of one spine with the slightest chip), spines finely & richly gilt, red & green morocco lettering pieces on spines. London: W. Strahan et al., 1770.

First edition, and a lovely set in attractive contemporary bindings. “On this tour Young travelled 2,500 miles from Bradfield to the northern boundary of England, across country westward, and so in a wide sweep back home, and he collected statistical data from some 250 farms of all sizes and... More