A TREATISE ON MECHANICS
London, England: Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme,Brown and Green, Paternoster Row and John Taylor, Upper Gower Street, 1830. Leather-bound. Small Octavo. Half-calf over marbled nonpareil boards (6 1/2 in. x 4 in.). Stamped design to vertical edges of leather wraparound spine. Leather cornerpieces quite worn. 4 raised bands to spine (5 compartments) ruled in gilt, except for title panel of contrasting (black) leather, framed top and bottom by double gilt lines. Conservator's repair to leather at top and bottom of spine, and rubbing to extremities abated. Olive green endpapers, most likely replacements. Previous owner's inked signature to top of title page. 21 full-page diagrams by H. Adlard. Pages very clean, and supple to turn. Previous owner's inked name to top of title pages and Table of Contents pages. 342 pp. Chapters Include: Properties of Matter; Inertia; Action and Reaction; Composition and Resolution of Force; Attraction; Terrestrial Gravity of the Motion of Bodies on Inclined Planes and Curves; The Centre of Gravity; The Mechanical Properties of an Axis; Of the Pendulum; Of Simple Machines; Of the Lever; Of Wheel-Work; Of the Pulley; On the Inclined Plane, Wedge, and Screw; On the Regulation and Accumulation of Force; Mechanical Contrivances for Modifying Motion; Of Friction and the Rigidity of Cordage; On the Strength of Materials; On Balances and Pendulums. The book is written by two authors, but Captain Kater is responsible only for "the chapter on Balances and Pendulums, the instruments on which the measurement of weight and time depends", and Dr. Lardner for everything else in the book. Very Good. Item #88449
Fabulous engraving to title page by Henry Corbould, depicting three cherubic toddlers operating several fundamental machines -- a lever to move a huge boulder, a screw to crush it, and a wedge to cleave it into pieces. Corbould "... was devotedly attached to art, and was surpassed by few in professional knowledge; no painter of his time was more thoroughly acquainted with drawing; and his copies from the antique may be referred to as models of accuracy and truth. Nor was he by any means without fancy and invention: some of his book illustrations are among the most graceful and effective productions of the age; and few designers ever more completely entered into the spirit of the author.." (Wikipedia)
Henry Adlard (1799-1893) "...was a stipple and line engraver, and a talented soft ground etcher, who primarily worked on landscapes by contemporary artists. However, he also made numerous engravings after portraits of his contemporaries, some sporting illustrations, as well as engraved bookplates. (Gallery Direct Art, and the British Government Art Collection).
Price: $125.00