Volume 2

Bibliographical notes on histories of inventions and books of secrets : Six papers read to the Archæological society of Glasgow April 1882-January 1888 / by John Ferguson.

  • John Ferguson
Date:
1895-1915
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bibliographical notes on histories of inventions and books of secrets : Six papers read to the Archæological society of Glasgow April 1882-January 1888 / by John Ferguson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The earliest edition of any of these is of 1651, so that the volume of that date may be made the starting point for observations on White’s writings. 5. (A. 1.) The title runs as follows: A rich | cabinet, | with | Variety of Inventions; | Unlock’d and opened, for the recreation of | Ingenious Spirits at their vacant houres. | Being Receits and Conceits of feverall Natures, | and fit for thofe who are lovers of Naturall and | Artificiall Conclufions. | Whereunto is added variety of Recreative | Fire- works, both for Land, Aire, and IVaier. | also | Fire-works of Service, for Sea and Shore, | very fitting for thefe Warlike times or Action. | Collected by J. IV. a lover of | Artificiall Condufions. | [Device.] Printed for William Gilbert/on at the figne of the Bible | without Newgate in Giltfpurftreet. 1651. | Small square 8vo. A to L in eights, M 2 ; no pagination. A 1 (blank, or with an engraved frontispiece, or portrait, or licence ?) is wanting. Woodcuts in the text. The Epistle is signed : An Artijis Friend, | John White. This is the first edition. It is in the British Museum (E. 1295. 2.). 6. (A. 2.) It was followed in 1653 by the second edition. The title- page is repeated and the book is simply reprinted, but at the end there is an addition of fourteen pages on fire-works. What follows gives the needful details of this edition. A rich | cabinet, | with | Variety of Inventions; | Unlocked and opened, for the recreation of | Ingenious Spirits at their vacant hours, | Being Receits and Conceits of feverall Natures, | and fit for thofe who are lovers of Naturall and | Artificiall Conclufions. | Whereunto is added, variety of Recreative | Fire- works, both for Land, Aire, and Water. | also | Fire-works of Service, for Sea and Shore, very | fitting for thefe Warlike times of Action. | Collected by J. W. a lover of Artificial Conclufions. | The fecond Edition with fome Additions. | [Device.] LONDON | Printed for William Gilbertfon at the Sign of the Bible | without New- gate in Giltfpur-ftreet. 1653, | Small 8°. A to M in eights; or pp. [2, blank] [14] 174 [2]. This edition did not have an engraved title page, for the first leaf in A is blank in my copy but is wanting in that of the British Museum (7955- a. 15.). The copies tally in other respects. There are woodcuts in the text. 7. The receipts are divided into sets or sections, not very sharply defined. The first set is of such a miscellaneous character that every one of the “ Receits ” would have to be quoted to convey a notion of what they are