PYROTECHNIA OR, A DISCOURSE OF ARTIFICIALL FIRE-WORKS. In which the true Grounds of that Art are plainly and perspicuously laid downe.

BABINGTON, John.

Edité par London Thomas Harper for Ralph Mab, 1635

TITLE CONTINUED: Together with sundry such Motions, both Straight and Circular, performed by the helpe of Fire, as are not to be found in any other Discourse of this kind, Extant in any Language. VVhereunto is annexed a short Treatise of Geometrie, contayning certaine Definitions and Problemes, for the Mensuration of Superficies and Sollids, with Tables for the Square Root to 25000, and the Cubick Root to 10000 Latus, wherein all Roots under those Numbers are extracted onely by Ocular Inspection. VVritten by Iohn Babington Gunner, and Student in the MATHEMATICKS. FIRST EDITION 1635, 2 parts in one volume. 4to, bound in sixes, approximately 280 x 180 mm, 11 x 7 inches, LACKING engraved title page, a good facsimile inserted, 2 large engraved folding plates plus18 full page engraved plates with multiple images to fireworks part, text illustrations in the mathmatical part, decorated initials. Pages: [14], 1-72; [4],1-80, followed by 200 pages of logarithmic tables, leather spine rebacked at sometime with new leather, gilt lettered label and gilt rules to spine, marbled boards with vellum tips, marbled endpapers. Marbled boards rubbed and scuffed, shelf wear to edges, 2 large folding plates mounted on stubs, trimmed to edges and laid down on thick paper, both have small chip to inner margin neatly repaired, not affecting image, pale age-browning to title page and edges of pages throughout, small repairs to edge of 2 margins in first part, not affecting images or text, a few small marginal repairs to the tables, all nowhere near text, pale staining and foxing to tables, mostly to last few pages, occasional rust or fox spot mostly to margins. A good tight copy. Babington's guide to making and lighting fireworks, including rockets and Catherine wheels. There are many more elaborate fireworks listed, including instructions for making a Royal coat-of-arms in fire, and directions for staging a duel between St George and a fire-breathing dragon, with excellent engraved illustrations. Three copies of English verses in praise of the author are prefixed, of which one is by John Bate, the author of "Mysteries of Nature and Art" with a section on fireworks. The second part, the geometrical treatise, was especially designed for the use of guns, and is dedicated to Sir John Heyden, Lieutenant of his Majesties Ordnance." See: Chris Philip, A Bibliography of Firework Books from the sixteenth to twentieth century, pages 14-16: "This book is without doubt the most important in firework bibliography. It was the first book in English to deal exclusively with the subject of display fireworks."; John Eliot Hodgkin, Rariora, Volume 3, Books on Fireworks, pages 26-28; Maurice Cockle, A Bibliography of Military Books up to 1642, page 102, No. 131. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST. N° de réf. du vendeur 50601

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : PYROTECHNIA OR, A DISCOURSE OF ARTIFICIALL ...
Éditeur : London Thomas Harper for Ralph Mab
Date d'édition : 1635
Reliure : Couverture rigide