A Compendious System of Natural Philosophy With Notes Containing the Mathematical Demonstrations and some Occasional Remarks

John Rowning's chief scientific work. comprising of parts I-III in their entirety, bound as one volume. The work is bound in a peculiar fashion in the order of Part I, Part II continued, Part III continued, Part II and Part III. The third edition of part I bound with the second edition of part II continued, the 1738 edition of part III continued, the third edition of part II, and the 1737 edition of part III. With a half-title to Part I and Part III continued, no other parts have half-titles in addition to their normal title-pages. Illustrated throughout. With plates I-IX to part I, plates I-IV to part II, plates V-VI to Part II continued, plates I-VI to part III and plates VII-XV to part III continued. Collated, appears to have all plates (30 plates in total across all three parts). Later editions have a part 'IV'. Similar editions on Copac of this work from 1737/1738 do not have a 'part IV' alike to this particular copy and this copy collates complete for this edition. John Rowning was a natural philosopher and mathematician. These dissertations discuss many topics including the properties of bodies, their laws of motion, mechanical powers, hydrostatics and pneumatics, optics, catoptrics and more. In a full calf binding. Rebacked with cloth to repair the joints and spine. Externally, bumped to the edges with patches of light rubbing to the boards and spine. Lacking one of the front endpapers and half of one of the rear endpapers. Prior owner's name to the title page of the first part. Small closed tear to the half-title page of part I. Internally, firmly bound. Plate VIII to part I is rather creased with small chips to the head. Lacking the top corner to plate IX of part I due to a prior owner's neat cut. Plate XII to part III is creased. Small hole to the margin of page 193-4 not affecting text. Pages are slightly age toned to edges. occasional light spots throughout. Good.