An Essay on Electricity, explaining the Principles of that Useful Science; and describing the Instruments, contrived either to illustrate the theory, or render the practice entertaining...to which is added A Letter to the Author, from Mr. John Birch, Surgeon, on the subject of Medical Electricity.

London: Printed by J. Dillon and Co, for, and Sold by, W. and S. Jones, Opticians, 1799.

Price: $1,000.00


About the item

The Fifth edition, with corrections and additions by William Jones, Mathematical Instrument Maker. Folding engraved frontispiece and 5 folding plates depicting instruments at back. 1 vols. 8vo. Nineteenth century half roan over marbled boards. Rubbed, upper joint cracking, some browning and spotting of text, generally light, creasing of plates, signature of Andrew Peck, dated 1874 on title, but a good copy of this important work. Motteley, p. 281 as well as numerous other citations for various statements, comments and descriptions given in this work.

Item #14949

George Adams, an English optician and writer of the late eighteenth century, published a wide variety of scientific works, including essays on microscopy, electricity, astronomy, geography, and natural and experimental philosophy. Adams, who was mathematical instrument-maker to King George II of England was well-known in London. The five folding plates at the rear of this volume illustrate his mathematical and scientific instruments in detail.

At the back of this volume is "A Catalogue of Optical, Mathematical, and Philosophical Instruments made and sold by W. and S. Jones" (14 pages) followed by a two-page notice of W. and S. Jones having taken over the stock of Mr. George Adams' "Philosophical Essays" after Adams' death in 1795.

John Birch, whose letter on medical electricity accompanies this edition, was a surgeon, and the author of "Della Forza dell'Elettricita" (Naples, 1778).