Lot 222
Bion, Nicolas
The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments
Auction: From the Library of Professor Roland Paxton | 01 October 2026 from 10am | Lots 221 to 252
Description
Translated from the French of M. Bion, Chief Instrument-Maker to the French King. London: printed by H.W. for John Senex, 1723. First English edition, folio (34.8 x 20.3cm), contemporary panelled calf rebacked, title in red and black, 26 folding engraved plates, woodcut head-pieces and initials, plates XIV, XVIII, and final few leaves of printed text browned (as often), leaf 2D1 cropped with slight loss of text, boards worn [ESTC T162523];
Leybourn, William. The Compleat Surveyor: or, the Whole Art of Surveying of Land. London: printed for Samuel Ballard, 1722. Fifth edition, folio (29.7 x 18cm), contemporary sprinkled calf, spine with raised bands, engraved portrait frontispiece, title in red and black, 14 folding engraved plates, repair to tear on frontispiece portrait, occasional spotting and toning, corner tips bumped [Goldsmiths' 6098; ESTC T147918];
Fabre, Jean-Antoine. Essai sur la Manière la plus Avantageuse de Construire les Machines Hydrauliques et en Particulier les Moulins à Bled. Paris: chez Alex. Jombert jeune, 1783. First edition, 4to (18.2 x 20.3cm), contemporary cat's paw calf, spine gilt with raised bands and red label, red-dyed edges, 6 folding plates, 2 errata leaves, head and tail of spine and corner tips worn, upper joint cracking;
Frontinus, Sextus Julius. Sex. Iulii Frontini De Aquaeductibus Urbis Romae Commentarius. Patavii [Padua]: apud Ioannem Manfrè, 1722. 4to (27.1 x 18.5cm), contemporary parchment, woodcut printer's mark on the title page and on the last leaf, 1 double-page text engraving and 15 engraved plates, ex-library (Norwich Public Libraries) with bookplates on front pastedowns and library stamps throughout, upper joint cracking [Graesse II p. 640];
Gautier, Henri. Traité de la Construction des Chemins. Paris: chez Robert Seneuze … André Cailleau, 1715. Second edition, 8vo (18.9 x 11.5cm), contemporary calf, gilt spine with raised bands, Dutch gilt paper endpapers and pastedowns, lacking portrait frontispiece, 6 engraved plates (2 folding) including partially coloured map, spine worn at head and discoloured (5)
Provenance
From the collection of the late Professor Roland Paxton MBE FICE FRSE (1932-2025), 'Britain's foremost historian of civil engineering' (Telegraph, obituary, 12th November 2025); Professor Paxton was also a leading conservationist of Britain's engineering heritage, and led successful campaigns to restore two of the world's most important railway structures, the Laigh Milton Viaduct in Ayrshire, the world's oldest surviving railway bridge, and the Union Chain Bridge, the world's oldest suspension bridge still carrying road traffic.