Rare, antiquarian, used & out-of-print books on scientific instruments and especially microscopes, and their uses, for sale at Horizon Books.

ANON, ; The Planisphere and How to Use it, with Full Instructions for its Mounting, Complete Construction as Celestial Chart, and Rules by which Arcs of Direction May be Measured off with Ease and Certainty. London, J. E. Catty, 1878, First edition, 8vo [24.5 x 16 cm]; 47 pp, plate, other illus, table, original cloth with gilt title lettering on front cover, joint and hinge with split but holding, old inkstamp on title page, contents very good.

The work is a manual for operating a Planisphere which makes a projection of the celestial sphere on a plane, and allows a tracking of the stars and planets, useful in astronomy and astrology.

US$30. bookID # 8378


BAUSCH & LOMB, ; Microscopes & Accessories; Photomicrographic and Micro-Projection Apparatus Microtomes; Colorimeters, Optical Measuring Instruments and Refractometers. Rochester, New York, Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., [1929, , 8vo [24 x 17 cm]; xiii, 318 pp, errata sheet inserted loose [dated Mar. 7, 1930], colored frontis, colored illus, hundreds of illustrations & plates from photos and drawing, diagrams, index, original leatherette, title lettering on spine and cover, edges rubbed, interior is clean, fine and unmarked in very good covers.

Very well-illustrated, showing the various instruments in detail, a superb reference of the wide variety of products produced at that time.

US$35. bookID # 13713


BEALE, Lionel S.; The Microscope in Medicine. London; Philadelphia, J. and A. Churchill; Lindsay and Blakiston, 1878, fourth edition, much enlarged, very thick 8vo [23 x 15 x 6 cm]; xxxi, 539, [iv, ads] pp, 86 plates (complete) with over 500 illustrations, numerous illustrations of instruments and accessories, indexes, original green cloth, gilt spine title lettering, light wear at edges, name on title margin, some pages with light toning in margins, internal hinge cracked but firm, very good.

A very well illustrated and detailed work by this fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and professor of medicine at King's College, London. Most of the illustrations were drawn by the author. The first edition of 1854

US$32. bookID # 13648


BRIDSON, Gavin; The History of Natural History; An Annotated Bibliography. New York and London, Garland Publishing, 1994, , 8vo [23.5 x 15.5 cm]; xxxi, 740 pp, bibliography, detailed indexes, original green cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and cover, clean fine copy, as new.

Published in the Smithsonian Institution's Bibliographies on the History of Science and Technology series, the highly qualified author, has produced a superb and very useful reference in all aspects of natural history. It gives details on thousands of works, books, articles, in general natural history, botany, zoology, broken into detailed categories, such as microscopy, aquatic biology, natural history exploration, classification, botanical gardens, illustration, zoological gardens, herbaria, museums among many others. This edition is superior to the later edition in that its printed on acid-free, 250-year-life paper.

US$70. bookID # 13844


CARPENTER, William B.; The Microscope and its Revelations. London, John Churchill, 1856, First edition, thick 12mo [18 x 12 cm]; xx, 778, [ii, publisher's ads] pp, 345 illustrations, index, original brown blind-stamped cloth, gilt spine title lettering, spine ends worn, small split at joint, endpaper inscription dated 1935, internally very good and clean in good cover.

The work was a standard reference and underwent many later printings over the years. Of particular interest are the many illustrations of microscopes and related equipment, accessories.

US$140. bookID # 13842


CARPENTER, William B.; The Microscope and its Revelations. New York, William Wood & Company, 1883, sixth edition, 8vo [23.5 x 16 cm]; 2 volumes, xi, 388; iv, 354 pp, color lithographed (chromolithograph) frontis, 25 plates plus 502 illus including many of microscopes and related equipment, index, original red cloth, decorated in black, gilt spine title lettering, a short tear at joint is repaired, else a fine, clean, unmarked set.

The work was a standard reference and underwent many printings over the years. Very well-illustrated, this edition having been expanded with additional topics including the use of the microscope in geology and with additional illustrations, earlier editions having only ten plates and much fewer illustrations. Of particular interest are the many illustrations of microscopes and related equipment, accessories. This chapter has a appendix on Numerical Aperture and Angular Aperature. An excellent copy, this is considered the best illustrated edition.

US$80. bookID # 13708


CATT, David, Junr.; Scenes from the Microscope. London, Samuel E. Roberts, [1905], , 12mo [18 x 12 cm]; xii, [13] - 80 pp, frontis of author at microscope, 19 other plates including one of microscopes, other of specimens, original red cloth with white decorations and lettering, spine lettering faded but still visible, decorative endpapers, very good copy, clean throughout.

The work includes good examples of items to see with a good optical microscope including insects, skin, blood, parasites, plants, spiders, bee, frog, etc.

US$7. bookID # 5360


CLARK, George L.; The Encyclopedia of Microscopy. New York, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, [1961], First edition, large and thick 8vo [26 x 18 cm]; xiii, 693 pp, over 600 illustrations from photos and drwgs, charts, bibliog, original cloth, gilt spine title lettering, dj (bit chipped at spine head, lightly rubbed), fine and clean in good dj.

A superb reference of over 140 articles by some of the best experts in their fields, covering 26 kinds of microscopy including chemical, electron microscopy, field emission, fluorescence microscopy, interference microscopy, metallography, phase microscopy, stereoscopic, ultraviolet, x-ray microscopy, etc. Includes many illustrations of microscopes and equipment.

US$12. bookID # 9526


CLARKE, L. [Louisa] Lane; Objects of the Microscope; being a Popular Description of the Most Instructive and Beautiful Subjects for Exhibition. London, Groombridge and Sons, 1863, Second edition, 12mo [18.5 x 12.5 cm]; xv, 248, [viii, ads] pp, illustrated, with the half title page, index, original red blind-stamped cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and cover, few light stains on cover, overall very good, interior is clean and near fine.

This second edition has additional chapters not present in the first including one on injected anatomical preparations.

US$40. bookID # 13710


ELLIS, John; An Essay towards a Natural History of the Corallines and other Marine Productions found on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland [with] The Natural History of many Curious & Uncommon Zoophytes, collected from various parts of the globe. London, printed for the author [&] Benjamin White and Son, 1755, 1786, First editions of each work, 4to [27 x 21 cm]; 2 volumes, xvii, [x], 103 [i]; xii, 206 pp, 40 engraved plates, some folding, in volume I including frontis & plate of Cuff's aquatic microscope, 63 engraved plates in volume II (only 62 called for), some of the plates in vol I by Ehret, contemporary full calf, gilt decorated, gilt title lettering on leather spine labels, joints cracked but firm, few leaves in volume II with light stain, scattered minor spotting, good plate impressions, endpaper bookplate of Edward Henry Scott, very good.

The two volumes are in matching bindings with volume 1 and 2 on spine although issued separately, each complete. The second volume was edited by Daniel Solander after Ellis had died. The first volume also has the description of a large Marine Polye taken near the north pole by the whale fishers in the summer of 1753. For the first volume see Freeman 1131: 'plate 38 absent in many, plate 39 in most copies'. Both are present here, plate 39 being the microscope plate, being the earliest depiction of Cuff's aquatic microscope (see Clay & Court, History of the Microscope, p66-68). 'In 1754 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and in the following year established his reputation as one of the most acute observers of his time by the publication of An Essay Towards a Natural History of the Corallines. . . . imperfectly comprehended by Linnaeus, he established the animal nature of this group of organisms'. Linnaeus described him as a 'bright star of natural history', and 'the main support of natural history in England'. Nissen 1281, 590. British Museum Cat. 523. Knight, Natural Science Books in English: 'Ellis's handsome volumes on corals and zoophytes'. Knight, Zoological Illustration p. 103: 'the classic work was done by John Ellis in his Essay towards a natural history of the Corallines, of 1755. . . he persuaded Ehret, the great botanical artist, to accompany him, there to draw from nature. . . The book duly contains delicate

US$1100. bookID # 11748


ELLIS, John; An Essay towards a Natural History of the Corallines and other Marine Productions found on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland; to which is added The Description of a Large Marine Polype taken near the North Pole by Whale-fishers in 1753. London, printed for the author, 1755, First edition, 4to [27 x 21 cm]; xvii, [x], 103 [i]; pp, 40 engraved plates, some folding, including frontis & plate of Cuff's aquatic microscope, some of the plates are by Ehret, renowned botanical artist, contemporary full calf, gilt decorated spine, gilt title lettering on leather spine label, joints cracked and worn but holding, edgewear, small armorial bookplate on endpaper, light foxing, interior is clean and very good, no tears.

Freeman 1131: 'plate 38 absent in many, plate 39 in most copies'. Both are present here, plate 39 being the microscope plate, being the earliest depiction of Cuff's aquatic microscope (see Clay & Court, History of the Microscope, p66-68). 'In 1754 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and in the following year established his reputation as one of the most acute observers of his time by the publication of An Essay Towards a Natural History of the Corallines. . . . imperfectly comprehended by Linnaeus, he established the animal nature of this group of organisms'. Linnaeus described him as a 'bright star of natural history', and 'the main support of natural history in England'. Nissen 590. British Museum Cat. 523. Knight, Natural Science Books in English: 'Ellis's handsome volume on corals and zoophytes'. Knight, Zoological Illustration p. 103: 'the classic work was done by John Ellis in his Essay towards a natural history of the Corallines, of 1755. . . he persuaded Ehret, the great botanical artist, to accompany him, there to draw from nature. . . The book duly contains delicate engravings from these drawings'.

US$750. bookID # 13303


FORD, Brian J., with a foreword by Professor John Bunyan; The Revealing Lens; Mankind and the Microscope. London, Harrap, [1973], First edition, 8vo [22 x 14 cm]; 208 pp, numerous illustrations and plates, mostly from photos, some drawings, index, original cloth, silver title lettering on spine, dj (very light wear at edge, price clipped), fine and clean copy with very good jacket.

A very well-illustrated book on the history of the microscope and the implications for science and civilization.

US$4. bookID # 13660


GAGE, Simon Henry; The Microscope. Ithaca, New York, The Comstock Publishing Company, 1932, Ultra-violet edition, 8vo [23 x 16 cm]; viii, 589 pp, about 300 detailed illustrations from drawings, photos, tables, title page vignette, bibliography, index, original cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and cover, spine slightly faded but lettering clear, near fine and clean copy, presentation inscription signed by author on endpaper with loose card presentation also signed.

A detailed and very well-illustrated work covering all aspects of microscopes and their parts, including polarizing microscopes, micro-spectroscopes, drawing with the microscope, photographing, preserving specimens, etc, etc. This edition has a new chapter on ultra-violet radiation in microscopy.

US$50. bookID # 13676


GOSSE, Philip Henry; Evenings at the Microscope: or Researches Among the Minute Organs and Forms of Animal Life. New York, D. Appleton and Company, 1860, First American edition, 20 x 13.5 cm]; xii, 480 pp, illustrations, index, original blind-stamped and pictorial cloth, gilt microscope on cover, gilt spine title lettering, cover rubbed, edgewear, light stain on some margins, no bookplates, names or marks, good.

Gosse was among the most distinguished naturalists in the nineteenth century and published numerous books, especially on marine biology, the sea shore, aquariums, and on his travels in Jamaica, Canada, Alabama, etc. Freeman 86: 'This was one of the most successful of Gosse's books and was a useful and accurate manual for the amateur microscopist. Most of the book is based on original observations and some of it was taken from his previously published papers in serials'.

US$24. bookID # 13653


GOSSE, Philip Henry; Tenby: A Sea-Side Holiday. London, John Van Voorst, 1856, First edition, 8vo [20 x 13 cm]; xviii, 400, [i], i], 8, [iv],16 [ads, some of author's other books] pp, 24 lithographed plates including 20 colored, frontis, original blind stamped cloth, gilt spine title lettering, spine lightly faded but lettering clear, endpaper signature, minor foxing on a few leaves, else a fine clean copy.

Gosse was the most important marine biologist of the nineteenth century, the father of sea-side studies and of the aquarium, and a true field naturalist. Some of the ads at the rear of the book are 'Practical Instructions of Tank Management and a list of descriptions, illustrations and prices of whatever relates to Aquaria' in keeping with the aquarium craze at the time which was in a large part encouraged by Gosse's book on aquariums and his others on marine biology. This book is based on a family holiday on the Welsh side of the Bristol Channel in 1854. Freeman & Wertheimer 67. Superb illustrations, many on microscopic life.

US$160. bookID # 12338


GREENISH, Henry George, Eugene Collin; An Anatomical Atlas of Vegetable Powders Designed as an Aid to the Microscopic Analysis of Powdered Foods and Drugs. London, J. & A. Churchill, 1904, First edition, 8vo [24.5 x 18.5 cm]; 287 pp, 138 illustrations on 128 plates (complete), index, original red cloth, gilt spine title lettering, title lettering on cover in gilt border, spine faded but lettering clear, corner bumped, interior is clean and fine in very good cover.

A very detailed work with numerous detailed illustrations covering all aspects including starches, flours, leaves, flowers, seeds, spices, fruits, woods, barks, roots, bulbs, corms, fungi, galls, spores, etc.

US$45. bookID # 13350


MANTELL, Gideon Algernon; Thoughts on Animalcules; or, a Glimpse of the Invisible World revealed by the Microscope. London, John Murray, 1846, First edition, 12mo [19.5 x 15 cm]; xvi, 144, [iii, ads of author's other books], [viii, ads] pp, 12 handcolored lithographed plates, other illustrations from drawings, engraved title page vignette, index, with the half-title page, original blind-stamped cloth, gilt spine title lettering, spine a little faded but lettering clear, spine end lightly frayed, endpaper a bit soiled, overall very good, plates excellent.

Nissen ZBI 2685. Freeman 2446: 'The 1850 re-issue was titled The Invisible World Revealed by The Microscope; or, Thoughts on Animalcules'. The author was a respected geologist and wrote this book when microscopes were becoming more common and the unknown world of hydra, cells, infusoria, polygastria, monads, vorticellina, rotifera, floscularia, stephanoceros, etc, became of great interest.

US$240. bookID # 12960


QUEKETT, John; A Practical Treatise on the Use of the Microscope, Including the Different Methods of Preparing and Examining Animal, Vegetable and Mineral Structures. London, H. Bailliere, Publisher, 1855, third edition, with additions, 8vo [22 14.5 cm]; xxii, [i], 556 pp, 11 plates including folding (short tear on one), frontis, 306 other illustrations including full-page, few colored, index, contemporary full prize calf, gilt spine title lettering, elaborate gilt design on spine, marbled endpapers & edges, light edge wear, spine end lightly chipped, small bookplate of Harry Thomas & inscription to him by headmaster, minor foxing, very good+.

This edition, with excellent illustrations of microscopes and accessories, has had about 100 pages added to first edition of 1848. Detailed descriptions of all aspects of microscope operation, as well as manipulation of subjects.

US$180. bookID # 13689


TAYLOR, J. E.; The Aquarium; Its Inhabitants, Structure, and Management. London, Hardwicke & Bogue, 1876, First edition, 8vo [19 x 12.5 cm]; xv, 316, [iv, ads] pp, 239 illustrations including full-page, index, original pictorial gilt cloth, with gilt picture of aquarium and fishes, gilt lettering, all edges gilted, covers rubbed, old bookseller's blindstamp on endpaper, very good, interior is clean and unmarked.

Freeman 3658. The author describes the history of the aquarium in detail, fresh-water and marine aquariums, their construction and use, the inhabitants of the aquariums including fish, reptiles, plants, insects, zoophytes, etc, the aquarium as a nursery for the microscope. Very well-illustrated. The illustrated ads at the rear are for the author's other books. At the time, this was the ultimate aquaria book, at the peak of the aquarium hobby in the nineteenth century.

US$125. bookID # 13658


TROREY, Lyle G., foreword by W. W. Williams; Handbook of Aerial Mapping and Photogrammetry. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1950, First edition, 8vo [25 x 16 cm]; xvi, 178 pp, 81 illustrations from photos and drawings including charts, index, original cloth, gilt spine title lettering, previous owner's name on endpaper, else fine and clean in good dj (chipped at edges, price clipped).

A very detailed work with all the details needed to make accurate aerial photographs, with formulas, charts, equipment and detailed examples. The author had served in the last war with the Canadian Military Survey and developed his methods after the war where speed and accuracy were both essential. There are excellent photos in the book of the equipment used, and details on stereoscopy and photogrammetry.

US$12. bookID # 12740


UKERS, William H.; All About Coffee. New York, The Tea and Coffee Trade Journal Company, 1935, Second edition, revised and updated, 4to [26.5 x 19 cm]; xxix, 796 pp, color frontis, maps, hundreds of illustrations from photos, portraits, tables, charts, bibliog, index, original brown cloth, gilt decoration, gilt lettering, small ink spot on lower edge, but a clean bright and fine copy.

The most detailed and authoritative work on coffee, including its history, its introduction into various countries, coffee houses, botany of coffee, microscopy, chemistry, pharmacology of coffee, commercial coffees, cultivation, production and consumption, characteristics, merchandising, coffee advertising, coffee trade, coffee persons, coffee in literature, coffee in fine arts, coffee apparatus, coffee manners and customs, preparation of beverages, chronology, etc. An excellent reference.

US$200. bookID # 6752


VAN HEURCK, Henri; The Microscope: Its Construction and Management. Including Technique, Photo-Micrography, and the Past and Future of the Microscope. London, Crosby Lockwood and Son, 1893, First edition in English, 4to [29 x 21 cm; xv, 382 pp, engraved frontis of author, plate, about 250 superb illustrations, mostly of microscopes and related equipment, index`, original pictorial gilt cloth, with gilt picture of microscope on cover, gilt title lettering, top edge gilted, cover stained, light wear, internal hinge cracked & repaired, some leaves stained in margin including frontis, good reading copy.

Translated from the French by Wynne E. Baxter and augmented by the author. Notable for its fine illustrations of microscopes and related equipment including camera lucida, polarizing apparatus, spectroscope, etc, projection microscopes, as well as detailed explanations on their uses. A massive and large format work.

US$120. bookID # 13747


WRIGHT, Lewis; The Microscope; A Practical Handbook. London, The Religious Tract Society, nd [c1927], , 8vo [21.5 x 15 cm]; 293 pp, color frontis, 195 illustrations including full-page, index, original cloth, gilt lettering on spine, edges rubbed, few pencilled notes in margins, very good.

Many of the illustrations are of microscopes and related equipment including 16 full-page, representing the state-of-the-art at the time, the models from various companies. This was the revised edition of the original 1922 edition, with revisions of sections on microscope stands and accessories. The author was a cancer researcher.

US$12. bookID # 5361


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