Lot 229
Science and engineering
Collection of works, 18th-19th century
Auction: From the Library of Professor Roland Paxton | 01 October 2026 from 10am | Lots 221 to 252
Description
Budge, J. The Practical Miner's Guide. London: Longman [etc.], 1825. First edition, large 8vo, contemporary cloth, later backstrip, edges untrimmed, half-title, 15 engraved plates (erratically numbered), plates spotted;
French, Gilbert J. The Life and Times of Samuel Crompton, Inventor of the Spinning Machine called the Mule. London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co., 1859. First edition, presentation copy on large paper, inscribed ‘To Mr William Slater, respectfully presented by his friend Gilbert J. French F. S. A.' on a large oval albumen-print photographic portrait of the author mounted to half-title verso, and with an additional albumen-print photograph presumably of Crompton's tomb to verso of final page, 4to, contemporary morocco gilt, 7 plates including frontispiece (frontispiece damp-stained), chip to head of spine;
Williamson, George. Memorials of the Lineage, Early Life, Education, and Development of the Genius of James Watt. [Edinburgh:] printed for the Watt Club by Thomas Constable, printed to Her Majesty, 1856. First edition, inscribed ‘Presented to the Institution of Engineers in Scotland by John Gray, Secretary to the Watt Club of Greenock, 16 April 1860’ on the initial blank and with a letter from Gray to Edmund Hunt of the Institute of Engineers in Scotland tipped in (describing this copy as ‘similar to that presented to her most gracious Majesty’, 4to, contemporary red morocco gilt by Banks (Junior) of Edinburgh, all plates as called for, tipped-in lithographic facsimile of a letter from Sir George Grey at Balmoral accepting a copy of the work on behalf of Queen Victoria (not called for in list of plates), variable spotting to plates;
Banks, John. A Treatise on Mills. London: Longman [etc.], 1815. Second edition, 8vo, later tan half calf, gilt arms of the Society of Writers to the Signet to covers, 3 engraved folding plates (somewhat browned);
Milne, John. A Practical View of the Steam Engine. Edinburgh: for John Boyd, 1830. First edition, 8vo, contemporary cat's-paw calf, rebacked with original spine laid down, gilt arms of the Society of Writers to the Signet to covers, 2 engraved plates (numbered 3-4, as in other copies examined and therefore probably as called for), spotting;
Hughes, Thomas. The Practice of Making and Repairing Roads. London: John Weale, 1838. First edition, 8vo, original boards, printed paper label to front, pencil markings to rear endpapers;
and 12 others similar (18)
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.