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Adams, George.
Micrographia Illustrata, OR, The Knowledge of the MICROSCOPE Explain'd: Together with an ACCOUNT of A New Invented UNIVERSAL, Single or Double, MICROSCOPE, Either of which is capable of being applied to an Improv'd SOLAR APPARATUS.
Publisher: Samuel Birt, London:
Date of Publication: 1747
Stock Code: 14245
Second Edition. Foolscap quarto, pp., 263, [i]. Complete with 65 copper-engraved folding plates, including frontispiece. With a pp., 21 catalogue of Adams’ “Mathematical, Philosophical, and Optical Instruments, As Made and Sold by GEORGE ADAMS” at end. The first six engravings are microscopes and other optical apparatus ‘invented and sold’ by Adams, the remaining 59 plates are objects seen under the microscope and include: feathers, fleas, ‘water polyps’, mites, ‘of the scales of human skin’, ‘aquatic pomegranates’, moths, gnats, beetles and indeed anything from the natural world that Adam’s could fit under his lens. Richly illustrated the work is a reissue of the first edition of the year before and, with 355 instruments for sale in the catalogue at end, was almost certainly printed to advertise the sale of Adam’s wares from his shop at "Tycho Brahe's Head in Fleet Street, London". George Adams (1709-1772) was one of England’s leading makers of scientific instruments of the 18th c. and was appointed instrument maker to the Prince of Wales (the future George III). Contemporary utilitarian calf; with five raised bands to spine, double fillet borders to boards and single fillets to spine bands. Some wear to corners, boards with some minor restoration, joints cracked but holding well. Lacking title label. A sturdy, internally very clean copy in a contemporary binding. £3500.00