Davis's Manual of Magnetism Including Galvanism, Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, Electro-dynamics, Magneto-Electricity, and Thermo-Electricity. with 180 Original Illustrations TWELFTH EDITION

Boston: Palmer and Hall (successors to Danel Davis, Jr.) Magnetical and Telegraphic Instrument Makers, 1857. Cloth. Good. [2-(advert)], [iii]-viii, 322, [5-(catalog)], [1-(blank)] pages. Plus two page engraved pages as "frontis" by Daniel Davis Jr. "Copied from the Galvanic Battery, from the Original Plate". Publisher's stamped brown cloth gilt. Insect damage (silverfish) to joints and surface of the binding, white spine label (blank). Great ticket of AMSLER & WIRZ, Mathematical and Philosophical instrument dealers in Philadelphia on front pastedown. Embossed stamp of Amsler on second flyleaf. Previous owner name (Samuel M Pea, Phila) penciled on front flyleaf. Cloth. This work was published over many years in many editions. In addition to being an instructional text, it is in essence a sales tool with a scientific instrument catalog in the rear. This particular copy is interesting for several reasons, having an excellent seller ticket from Optical importer and manufacturer Amsler & Wirz and similar embossed stamp.

This edition is also interesting because of the two page advertisement noting Palmer & Hall, successors to Daniel Davis, Jr., have removed to 158 Washington Street Boston where they continue to operate (and lists many types of instruments available).

Thomas Hall was a Magnetical and Telegraphic Instrument Maker with offices at 19 Bromfield Street in Boston, MA. The instruments described and illustrated in the text were made by Hall, who apparently succeeded Daniel Davis in the business. Although undoubtedly used as a supplementary "catalogue" by the maker, it is written as a series of practical experiments with illustrations, and it is noted this was used as a textbook at the US Military Academy at West Point. The first edition was published in 1842.

PROVENANCE:
Library of telegraph historian Bill Holly.