Lot 194
Bonnycastle, John
Collection of his works on mathematics & astronomy, 18th & 19th century
Auction: Other Properties | Wed 25 February from 10am | Lots 63 to 255
Description
An Introduction to Mensuration and Practical Geometry. London: J. Johnson, 1782. First edition, 12mo, illustrations, contemporary sheep, binding worn and stained, some staining and scorch marks to edges of preliminary leaves [ESTC N7790];
An Introduction to Astronomy. London: J. Johnson, 1786. First edition, 8vo, 20 plates (some folding) and frontispiece, rebacked in half calf with marbled boards, retaining original red leather spine label [ESTC T113763];
A Treatise on Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. London: J. Johnson, 1806. First edition, 8vo, illustrations, half-title, modern full calf with gilt tooling on spine;
A Treatise on Algebra in Practice and Theory. London: J. Johnson & Co., 1813. First edition, 2 volumes, 8vo, rebacked in half calf, retaining original marbled boards, some staining and spotting in volume 1;
Autograph letter, dated 26th August, 1782, of Bonnycastle to his publisher Joseph Johnson. 1 sheet folded to make 2 leaves (25.4 x 19.8cm), with verso of second leaf for address, wanting top half of second leaf, discussing books lent by Johnson, forthcoming publications, and his friend the Swiss painter Henry Fuseli;
And approx. 25 others, later 19th-century editions of Bonnycastle's works, including an Ottoman Turkish treatise on geometry, titled Usul-i Hendese ['Elements of Geometry'], 19th century, (4to, contemporary sheep, 272 pp., with folding tables), no date, place or author's name given in text, but identified in a laid-in word-processed catalogue note as translation of John Bonnycastle by Hüseyin Rifki, ownership inscription of one Gérard Devèze, ‘orientaliste', dated Paris, 1881 to p. 2 (approx. 30)
Footnote
John Bonnycastle (c. 1760-1821) was a mathematician, tutor and author of several best-selling textbooks on mathematics and astronomy.