On Aerial Locomotion 1864 First Edition Early Aviation Engineering Pamphlet Boulton

Boulton, M. P. W.

Edité par London: Bradbury & Evans, 11 Bouverie Street, 1864, London, 1864

A propos de cet article

First edition of this scarce early work on the theory and mechanical challenges of powered flight, published at a formative moment in the development of aeronautical engineering.

Octavo pamphlet format. Title page dated 1864, followed by 7 pages of text and concluding postscript. Disbound or issued without covers, as is typical for pamphlet material of this nature. Clean, well-preserved paper stock with light scattered spotting and occasional minor marks. Stitching visible at inner margin. A very good survival.

The work examines the fundamental mechanical problem of aerial propulsion, considering steam power, gas propulsion, and explosive compounds such as gun-cotton as potential energy sources. The author references earlier scientific thought, including Darwin and Tennyson, and discusses the limitations of ballooning versus controlled powered flight.

Why This Matters;

This is a genuinely early and conceptually important text in the evolution of aviation.

Published decades before the Wright brothers, it reflects the transitional period where theoretical speculation began to move toward practical engineering solutions. The discussion of propulsion systems, weight constraints, and mechanical feasibility places this work within the same intellectual trajectory that would ultimately lead to powered flight.

Ephemeral scientific pamphlets of this type were rarely preserved, making surviving examples increasingly scarce in the market. It sits at the intersection of Victorian engineering, experimental science, and the early imagination of human flight.

For collectors of aviation history, scientific progress, or 19th-century technological thought, this represents a highly desirable and academically relevant piece.

Offered by Atlas Rare Books, specialists in rare and antiquarian books.

Condition;

Very good. Light spotting and occasional minor marks. Clean and structurally sound. Disbound or as issued. No significant loss or damage to text.

Offered by Atlas Rare Books, specialists in rare and antiquarian books.

N° de réf. du vendeur ABE-1776355543775

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: On Aerial Locomotion 1864 First Edition Early Aviation Engineering Pamphlet Boulton
• Éditeur: London: Bradbury & Evans, 11 Bouverie Street, 1864, London
• Date de parution: 1864
• Langue: anglais
• Reliure: Couverture rigide
• Édition: Edition originale
• État de l'article: Assez bon