Fine Microscopy Books from the Collection of Norman & Florence Blitch Lots 23-47
23 ADAMS, George (1750-1795). Micrographia Illustrata, or the Microscope Explained.... London: for the author, 1747. 4to (215 x 165 mm). 65 engraved folding plates. Contemporary calf gilt (upper joint repaired, hinges starting). Second edition, a reissue of the first edition of 1746 with the 20pp. catalogue of Adams’ instruments at the end. In the Micrographia Illustrata, Adams gives credit to Leeuwenhoek and Trembley for their previous work on the Hydra, but he was criticized for his use of illustrations from the work of earlier authors, particularly Hooke and Lyonet, often without attribution. ESTC T53415. $2,500 - 3,500
24 ADAMS, George (1750-1795). Essays on the Microscope, containing a Practical Description of the most improved Microscopes. London: Dillon and Keating, 1798. 4to (272 x 212 mm). Half-title; engraved allegorical frontispiece, several wood-engraved illustrations; 36 engraved plates on 32 sheets; 16pp. publisher’s advertisements. (Some spotting or staining.) Contemporary calf gilt, green morocco lettering-pieces gilt (rebacked preserving original spine). Second edition, with plates and text bound together in one volume, of Adams work on Microscopes. Adams invented the lucernal microscope, a type of projection microscope. $500 - 700
25 BAKER, Henry (1698-1774). The Microscope Made Easy. London: R. Dodsley, 1742.
26 BAKER, Henry (1698-1774). An Attempt towards a Natural History of the Polype... London: R. Dodsley, 1743.
8vo (197 x 115 mm). 14 engraved plates (9 folding) and one folding table. (Tear to corner of plate 8 with loss of plate number, some minor browning or spotting.) Contemporary sprinkled calf gilt (rebacked to style, some light wear).
8vo (200 x 120 mm). Engraved frontispiece, woodcut illustrations in text. (Some spotting or browning.) Contemporary blind-ruled calf (rebacked preserving old lettering-piece, hinges starting). Provenance: Philip Earl Stanhope, likely Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl Stanhope (17141786) Fellow of the Royal Society (armorial bookplate).
FIRST EDITION. Baker, who was elected a fellow of the Royal Society for his scientific achievements, took an interest in microscopy, culminating in the publication of the present work, his first contribution to the field. [With:] BAKER, Henry (1698-1774). The Microscope Made Easy. London: J. Dodsley, 1769. 8vo (205 x 125 mm). 15 engraved plates (most folding), folding letterpress table. (Some minor spotting or browning, a few short tears to folds.) Contemporary calf (rebacked, preserving old lettering-piece, endpapers renewed). Fifth edition. $200 - 300 14
FINE BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS INCLUDING AMERICANA
FIRST EDITION in which Baker describes his repetition of Trembley’s systematic experiments of 1739. Despite giving credit to Trembley and to Leeuwenhoek for his 1702 observations, Baker was criticized for publishing his work before Trembley’s 1744 book. Wellcome II, p.88. $200 - 300
