A Gentleman, Late of Bath Sir Edward Harington (3 results)

First Edition. Bound in quarter leather spine with leather tips. The spine has 5 raised bands and gold tooling and lettering with the date 1786 stamped at the bottom. With a 1/4" chip at the top of the spine. The front and rear hinges have been reglued. Charming marbled endpapers. Printed on deckle-edged quality laid rag paper. Top edges gilded. With heavy wear to the extremities and along the outer spine edges. An uncommon volume, especially with the account of the Montgolfier Air Balloon Disaster. Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier(30 March 1754 15 June 1785) was aFrench chemistryandphysicsteacher, and one of the first pioneers ofaviation. He andFrançois Laurent d'Arlandesmade the first manned free balloon flight on 21 November 1783, in aMontgolfierballoon. He later died when his balloon crashed nearWimereuxin thePas-de-Calaisduring an attempt to fly across theEnglish Channel. He and his companion,Pierre Romain, thus became the first known fatalities in anair crash. He also risked himself while researching the flammability of hydrogen: in "A Short History of Nearly Everything", Bill Bryson writes "In France, a chemist named Pilatre de Rozier tested the flammability of hydrogen by gulping a mouthful and blowing across an open flame, proving at a stroke that hydrogen is indeed explosively combustible and that eyebrows are not necessarily a permanent feature of one s face." (Wikipedia) Harington, Sir Edward (1753? 1807), traveller and essayist, born about 1753, was the only son of Henry Harington, M.D. (1727 1816) [q. v.] On 27 May 1795, when mayor of Bath, he presented to the king a congratulatory address from the corporation on his escape from the attempt of Margaret Nicholson, and was knighted. Harington, who is described as clever, but eccentric, died in London on 18 March 1807, aged 54 (Gent. Mag.1807, pt. i. p. 486). He was twice married, and left issue by his first wife; one of his sons, Edward (1776-1811), was father of Edward Charles Harington [q. v.] He was author of: 1. 'Excursion from Paris to Fontainebleau, by a Gentleman, late of Bath.' 1786. 2. Desultory Thoughts on the French Nation.' 3. 'A Schizzo on the Genius of Man, in which, among various subjects, the merit of Thomas Barker, the celebrated young painter of Bath, is particularly considered,' 1793. 4. 'Remarks on a Letter relative to the late Petitions to Parliament for the safety and preservation of his Majesty's person, and for the more effectually preventing seditious meetings and assemblies: with compleat abstracts of the several clauses contained in each bill,' 1796. (DNB).

Condition: Good. 1786. Hardcover. 'To which is added, an adventure in the Champs Elises, near Paris; also an interesting account of the unfortunate disaster which befel Monsieur Pilatre de Rozier at Boulogne; with a translation of the elegant eulogium upon him, by the Marquis de Maisonfort: With abstracts from the registers of the Parliament of Paris; Containing a year's list of Criminals Sentenced at Paris; With the nature of their crimes and punishments; translated from his French." Original calf, at sometime well re-backed. Red block label, gilt cross bands. Edges a little rubbed, else a very nice copy. Minor stain to top outer margin of first few leaves, small library stamp to f.e.p. Pilatre de Rozier was the first human to ascend in a balloon, a feat he accomplished in 1783. In 1785 he determined to cross the channel from Boulogne to England in a balloon built and owned by Romaine, who was his companion. In June he deemed conditions to be right for the ascent and crossing, but many thought the place of departure inappropriate. The balloon ascended and stayed aloft for about half an hour before it caught fire, blew up and fell to earth. The description of the state of the two bodies is somewhat gruesome. Extremely scarce, as few as two recorded copies in Ireland and Britain. First edition copy. . . .

Condition: Good. 1786. Hardcover. 'To which is added, an adventure in the Champs Elises, near Paris; also an interesting account of the unfortunate disaster which befel Monsieur Pilatre de Rozier at Boulogne; with a translation of the elegant eulogium upon him, by the Marquis de Maisonfort: With abstracts from the registers of the Parliament of Paris; Containing a year's list of Criminals Sentenced at Paris; With the nature of their crimes and punishments; translated from his French." Original calf, at sometime well re-backed. Red block label, gilt cross bands. Edges a little rubbed, else a very nice copy. Minor stain to top outer margin of first few leaves, small library stamp to f.e.p. Pilatre de Rozier was the first human to ascend in a balloon, a feat he accomplished in 1783. In 1785 he determined to cross the channel from Boulogne to England in a balloon built and owned by Romaine, who was his companion. In June he deemed conditions to be right for the ascent and crossing, but many thought the place of departure inappropriate. The balloon ascended and stayed aloft for about half an hour before it caught fire, blew up and fell to earth. The description of the state of the two bodies is somewhat gruesome. Extremely scarce, as few as two recorded copies in Ireland and Britain. First edition copy. . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.