Lot 171
Gunnery
Specifications of Patents of Invention relating to Fire-Arms, Projectiles, etc.
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 21 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
[volumes 1-4:] enrolled under the Act 21 James I. From 15th May 1718 to 10th September 1852 [volume 5:] filed under the Act 15 & 16 Vict. c.183. From 1st October 1852 to 31st December 1853. London: George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode, 1854. 5 volumes, folio (28.5 x 17.5cm), contemporary half morocco, spines lettered in gilt, marbled sides, edges untrimmed, each volume containing approximately 80 patents, separately paginated, each with royal arms to head and publisher's imprint at end, profusely illustrated with lithographic plates (most of them folding), title-page to each volume (except volume 4), volumes 1 and 5 with index at front, bindings rubbed, blind stamps (American Institute Library) to title-pages and endpapers, a few closed handling tears to folding plates
Footnote
Note: No other set traced in auction; the Royal Armouries appear to hold three sets (Leeds, Fort Nelson and the Tower of London), their records suggesting that a further two volumes were published.
Provenance: Stephen V. Grancsay (1897-1980), curator of arms and armour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (bookplates); Henk Visser (1923-2006), Dutch resistance fighter, businessman and noted collector of arms and amour (bookplates).