LECTURES ON SELECT SUBJECTS IN MECHANICS, HYDROSTATICS, PNEUMATICS, AND OPTICS. With the Use of the Globes, The Art of Dialing, and The Calculation of the Mean Times of New and Full Moons and Eclipses. With the Supplement.

FERGUSON, JAMES. F.R.S.

Published by Printed for W. Strahan, J. and F. Rivington, J. Hinton, L. Hawes and Co. W. Johnston, S. Crowder, T. Longman, B. Law, G. Robinson, and T. Cadell., 1772

About this Item

Fourth Edition. 8vo. 5.25 x 8.25 inches. ix + [iii] + 396 pp. + [6] pp. index + 48 pp. supplement, illustrated with 36 folding plates drawn by the author and engraved by J. Mynde. Half-title with advertisements on verso. Supplement has separate half-title and pagination but register is continuous. Bound in original calf with gilt rule, spine in compartments with raised bands, and contrasting morocco label, gilt. Plate 8 has left-hand edge loss very slightly affecting the engraving. Plates 9 and 11 have dusty left-hand edges where the paper has been incorrectly folded and protruded from the text block. Occasional light spotting, otherwise a fine crisp copy. Lectures on the principles of forces and mechanics, topics include water mills, cranes, wheeled carriages, pile drivers, hydraulics, pneumatics, optics and the use of globes and armillary spheres. James Ferguson (1710-76), the son of a smallholder, received only three months of formal education. His enthusiasm for mechanics developed after watching his father raise the roof of their decayed cottage with a lever. He acquired an interest in astronomy while working as a shepherd and became skilful as a mechanical modelmaker, also constructing clocks and globes. Moving to Edinburgh, he worked as a portrait painter before moving to London in 1743. Ferguson demonstrated his astronomical models at well-attended lectures and soon gained a scientific reputation. George III granted him an annual pension in 1761 and in 1763 he was elected an FRS. He published a number of popular books on astronomy, electricity, mechanical exercises and perspective drawing. These Lectures were first published in 1760; this fourth edition, which is in a fine contemporary binding, is quite scarce, ESTC recording copies in only five British and seven US libraries. NATURAL HISTORY/SCIENCE MECHANICS SCIENCE- PHYSICS 18TH CENTURY NATURAL HISTORY/SCIENCE. Seller Inventory # 20784

Bibliographic Details

Title: LECTURES ON SELECT SUBJECTS IN MECHANICS, ...

Publisher: Printed for W. Strahan, J. and F. Rivington, J. Hinton, L. Hawes and Co. W. Johnston, S. Crowder, T. Longman, B. Law, G. Robinson, and T. Cadell.

Publication Date: 1772

Condition: ESTC N19869.