Essays on The Microscope containing A Practical Description of The Most Improved Microscope: A General History of Insects, Their Transformations, Peculiar Habits and Oeconomy.Hydrae and Vorticellae.

1st edition, 1787, text and plates in one volume; 9 x 10.5 inches approx, original binding with four raised bands, comprising half- title page, allegorical frontis., title page, dedication to the King, Preface, list of authors consulted, advertisement for other titles by the same author, Table of Contents, 'Essays on The Microscope' (pp 1 - 711 ), Index (pp 713 - 720 ) / 'Plates For The Essays on The Microscope', title page, folding plates numbered 1 - 31, however one is numbered XXVI and one is numbered 26, hence 32 plates in all, showing microscopes and microscopic specimens |||| Condition: covers are poor, boards have lost calf covering and back board is completely detached; backstrip remains firmly attached with title lettering clearly visible (though with crack through the word microscope | volume is square and but for one plate (see below ) all pages remain securely bound | marbled endpapers are scuffed and partly detached from boards | frontis. page has some loss at side edge and has spill mark in gutter (please see image) | title page and main text show some yellowing due to age, and light general wear; later pages (688 - 720 ) are creased in side margin, but text is unaffected (please see image) | some plates are damaged, as follows: plate III - page is detached, with significant tears along fold and old tape repair to reverse, which loosely attaches to the preceding plate (please see image); plate X is badly worn along fold; plate XIII completely split along fold (please see image); plate XXII worn along fold with loss at top and tail; other plates vary in condition, about half being near-fine - fine, and half showing wear along edges and/or folds | Please note this copy does not include a catalogue of instruments made by the author ||| As only a limited number of images can be included here, please get in touch if you require additional images of this item ||| Carefully packaged and dispatched from UK within two working days.…