At the Sign of Atlas : The Life Work of Joseph Moxon, a Restoration Polymath

Donnington: Shaun Tyas, 2013. Book. Fine. Hardcover. First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. A fine new copy. Joseph Moxon was born in Wakefield in 1627. After a period in Holland with his father and brother he established himself in London as a printer, publisher, type-founder and maker of scientific instruments and globes including pocket globes and the Castlemaine (or English) globe. He became Hydrographer to King Charles II in 1662. He was well known in Restoration London and acquainted with Pepys, Hooke, Halley and Evelyn. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1678. He published some 80 books, many of great importance. Some are splendid examples of publishing skills. In his later years he himself wrote and published two remarkable books, The Mechanick Exercises, Volumes I and II. The first deals with smithing, carpentry, joinery, and woodturning; the second with all aspects of printing. They gave accurate accounts of these crafts so breaking the traditions of secrecy in the Craft Guilds. These books remain of considerable interest today and are still available as facsimiles. Moxon died in London in 1691. Professor Derek A. Long F.S.A. has recently completed a biography of Joseph Moxon with the title "At the Sign of Atlas.the first full biography of Moxon. It has a glossy colour dust wrapper, extracts from which are reproduced above. It is a substantial hardback volume consisting of 155 pages of text and 61 Figures. The majority of the figures are in colour and many have not been published previously. The twelve chapters of text give detailed accounts of all aspects of Joseph Moxon's life and work, and include much new information based on the author's research over many years..