The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments. Translated from the French of M. Bion, chief instrument-maker to the French king. . . . By Edmund Stone. by BION, Nicolas (circa 1652-1733) - 1758

London:: Printed for J. Richardson, 1758., 1758. Folio. vii, [1], 264; [iv], 265-325, [1] pp. Title printed in black, headpieces, decorative initials, tailpieces, tables, 30 engraved plates, errata (p. 325); plate IX mended. Elegant period-style full modern blind-ruled speckled calf, raised bands, red leather spine label, gilt ruled spine. Ownership rubber-stamp of G. E. Boom (p. 25 [H1]). Very good copy in a handsome binding. Second and best English edition, translated from the French by Edmund Stone. The superb plates illustrate many fine instruments, including the telescope, quadrant, sun dial, pendulum clock, various astronomical instruments, and much more. The whole of Book VII is devoted to instruments of navigation, the compass and astrolabe in particular. / Historian of science, David M. Knight, Durham University, described this work as "the most famous book devoted to instruments." / Little is known of the life and work of Nicolas Bion; the Biographie universelles describes Bion as a cosmographer and maker of globes and spheres, who published many estimable works. He wrote a work on astrolabes. Bion and sold mathematical instruments in Paris in his own shop and as royal instrument maker for Louis XIV. REFERENCES: DSB, II, pp. 132-133; Mottelay, Paul Fleury, Bibliographical History of Electricity and Magnetism, p. 148. FULL TITLE: The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments. Translated from the French of M. Bion, chief instrument-maker to the French king. To which are added, the construction and uses of such instruments as are omitted by M. Bion; particularly of those invented or improved by the English. By Edmund Stone. The whole illustrated with thirty folio copper-pates, containing the figures, &c. of the several instruments.