[Circa 1822].
Price: $5,600.00
Softcover. Nearly square octavo. Blank book with stitched illustrated wrappers printed with "Fredrich II nach der Schlacht bei Kollin" ["Fredrich II after the Battle of Kollin"] printed on the front wrap and "Potsdam" on the rear. 18 unnumbered leaves, both sides of each page heavily used for both written and drawn descriptions of mechanical devices and inventions. Staining, particularly at the front and rear pages, and some erosion along the top edge that removes a modest amount of text, but nothing substantial, good only but pleasing and delightful.
A wonderful notebook used by an engineer or mechanic, possibly by an advanced student. Undated but likely circa 1822, many of the devices described were developed about that time. Descriptions of approximately 23 devices and a couple of methods of measurement, each with one or more nicely accomplished and detailed illustrative drawings. The text is mostly written in brown ink, the drawings in pen and ink, some with wash or color added. The inside cover reveals the floor plan of a house, the first page shows three portraits, (one labeled "A Great Mechanic"); other illustrated devices are Tantalus's Cup, a Diving Bell, "Vessels used in making the Breakwater in Plymouth Sound [1819]," a Mowing Machine, Agate Milling machinery, a Log Land Life Safety Beacon erected on the shore in 1820, a Pedomotive Carriage (essentially a three wheeled bicycle), an automated cross-cut saw, a foot-operated paddle boat, a couple of clocks, Hadley's Quadrant, and two different nautical lifesaving devices: Lt. Bell's mortar that shoots a life line, and a full-page colored illustration that shows a similar method using oaken barrels developed by Mr. Crane of Norwich, as well as several other devices. The final drawing is one of the most intriguing: "Velocipede to be fixed to the feet like skates" but which looks similar to a modern skateboard. A very pleasing notebook filled with interesting drawings.
Item #386324
