Description

[003774] Robertson, John. A Treatise of Such Mathematical Instruments, as are Usually Put Into a Portable Case: Containing Their Various Uses in Arithmetic, Architecture, Geometry, Surveying, Trigonometry Etc Etc. Designed for the Benefit of Engineers, Architects, Surveyors Etc. ill. Seale, R.W. [Engraver]. London: T. Heath; J. Hodges; and J. Fuller, 1747. First Edition. 8vo. Hardback. Good. [3] iv, [1] ii-xxiii, [2], 2-53, [54-59], 60-107pp, [1], plates. Contemporary speckled sheep, raised bands, spine in six panels, each panel with single line to head and foot and either side of each band, covers with single line border

Head cap slightly chipped, outer joints split but holding well on cords, scuffing to boards with slight loss to leather covering covers, corners bumped and rubbed. Internally some light browning, occasional spots of foxing, but generally quite bright and clean

With a folding frontispiece and six folding plates as called for. The plates were engraved by R.[ichard] W.[William] Seale (1703?-1762), “who was signing maps by 1731 … He took on James Basire in 1745 … he engraved the plates, including a fine folding fr.[ontis] to John Robertson’s A Treatise of Such Mathematical Instruments” (see Alexander, A Biographical Dictionary of British and Irish Engravers 1714-1820, pages 810-811)

The Erwin Tomash copy, with his book label to foot of front pastedown. Well held institutionally, but only this copy and one in the Macclesfield sale appear in auction records since 1977

Wellcome IV:538 (for the second edition of 1757); ESTC T92497