[Rarebooks] FS - Rare work on perspective

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

*DITTON, Humphry. /A TREATISE OF PERSPECTIVE Demonstrative and 
Practical. Illustrated with Copper Cutts./* Bound in contemporary 
leather with raised bands to the spine. Printed for B. Tooke and D. 
Midwinter, London. 1712. 1st edition. Small 8vo. Pagination: pp. xvi, 
1-48, 49-50 absent but text continuous, 51-164, 167-168, 165-166, 
171-172, 169-170, six folding plates, 173, [1].

Ditton (1675-1715) was a mathematician, a disciple of Sir Isaac Newton, 
and master of a new mathematical school at Christ's Hospital for which 
this book was written. This is the firstEnglish book on perspective, and 
precedes Brook Taylor's "New Principles of Linear Perspective" (1719). 
With William Whiston he derived an impracticable scheme for the 
determination of longitude by the firing of a shell set to explode at a 
certain height. He published several other noted works including "The 
General Laws of Nature and Motions" (London, 1705, a commentary on 
Newton's "Principia"), and (with Whiston), "A New Method for Discovering 
the Longitude both at Sea and Land.." (London, 1714). Our copy of "A 
Treatise of Perspective" is complete, with Errata page, although some of 
the latter pages are bound out of order. The last part of the book is 
"An Appendix containing a brief Account of some Things of Use, in the 
Art of Perspective", and includes comments and suggstions on stage 
design, "lights and shadows", "pictures in pictures", etc. The last page 
of the book contains advertisements, including an endorsement by Ditton 
of a drawing master at the Christ's Hospital. The book is dedicated to 
Francis Nicholson "General of Her Majesty's Forces in North America". On 
the blank page, on the reverse of the dedication page, a 19th century 
former owner has practiced his signature. The front free endpaper is 
absent, and there are numerous signatures to the front pastedown, and 
some scribblings to the rear pastedown, all in an early hand. There is a 
signature to the bottom margin of the title page. The text shows some 
light foxing. The six folding plates are a bit dog-earred, creased, and 
foxed, but they are intact and may be folded out and examined without 
trepidation. The boards are heavily scuffed, and the joints are 
starting, but the binding is intact. A good copy, notwithstanding.

Price:  $1,750.00.

Terms of sale - The price is in US funds. Payment by check, credit card, 
or as otherwise arranged. Postage, packing, and insurance charge is $10. 
Returnable (with prior notice) within seven days of receipt if not as 
described.

 
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