The Principles of Astronomy and Navigation: or, a clear, short, yet full explanation, of all circles of the celestial, and terrestrial globes, and of their uses, being the whole doctrine of the sphere, and hypothesis to the phenomena of the Primum Mobile. To which is added a discovery of the secrets of nature, which are found in the mercurial-weather-glass, &c. As also a new proposal for buoying up a ship of any burden from the bottom of the sea.

SINCLAIR, George.

Published by Edinburgh: Printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson? 1688., 1688

About this Item

Small 8vo, 3 parts in 1 volume with continuous signatures, pp. (viii), 85, (1) blank, 49, (1) blank, 14. Separate title-page to the second part, without the final blank leaf as in other copies seen. Misprint ?Carpenter? for ?Co-partner? on the last p. 3 corrected probably in the author?s or printer?s hand. Title-page and last page a little browned and soiled. Contemporary panelled sheep, rather rubbed but nicely rebacked and restored, spine unlettered, initials AC on sides beside a central device, later endpapers. FIRST EDITION of the last published work of George Sinclair, formerly professor of philosophy at Glasgow and one of the first experimental scientists in Scotland. The first and largest part of this book is an introduction to astronomy and the rotation and composition of the world. The second part is on the use of the barometer, in which Sinclair was a pioneer of its use to establish altitudes and the depths of mines. Sinclair graduated his barometer at a time when few makers calibrated their instruments in a measurable scale. This is also the first book cited by Middleton (History of the Barometer) to use the now familiar terms Rain, Change, Fair, etc. In 1665 Sinclair had been involved in the use of a diving bell to salvage a wreck off the Scottish coast, and in 1669 he published the most important account of the diving bell of the seventeenth century in his Ars Nova Gravitatis et Levitatis. In the third part of the present book he returns to the subject with a discussion about how sunken ships can be raised with the use of caissons (which he calls ?Arks?) filled with air while under water. Phillips, Diving, pp. 335?340.

Seller Inventory # 4213

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Principles of Astronomy and Navigation: or, a clear, short, yet full explanation, of all circles of the celestial, and terrestrial globes, and of their uses, being the whole doctrine of the sphere, and hypothesis to the phenomena of the Primum Mobile. To which is added a discovery of the secrets of nature, which are found in the mercurial-weather-glass, &c. As also a new proposal for buoying up a ship of any burden from the bottom of the sea.
• Publisher: Edinburgh: Printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson? 1688.
• Publication Date: 1688
• Condition: Very Good