1648 Mathematicall Magick: Mecanicall Geometry, John Wilkins FLYING Chariot

Mathematicall Magick. Or, The Wonders That may be performed by Mechanicall Geometry. In two Books. Concerning Mechanicall Powers & Motions. Being One of The most easie, pleasant, usefull, (and yet most neglected) part of Mathematicks. Not before treated of in this language. By I.W. M.A., London: Printed by M.F. for Sa: Gellibrand at the brasen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard, 1848. Contemporary half-leather marbled binding, ****incomplete as a work, first edition, 295 pp, 6.5 x 4.25", 12mo. ****Lacking leaves/pages: A1 (frontispiece of Wilkins); Signature H (p. 97-112); Signature J; K7, K8, & L1 (p. 143-6); L4 (p. 151-2); L7 & L8 (p. 159-160); Signature U. In poor condition. As is. Several missing signatures/leaves (listed above). Contemporary binding in good condition - edges of boards are lightly scuffed & corners lightly worn. Head and tail of modern spine worn, but intact. Gilt lettering and ruling overall clean and bright. Hinges show wear, but are intact. Modern front marbled end-page detached from binding. Previous ownership bookplate found on front paste-down: One of the Books of Henry James Coolidge, 1827-1905. All leaves in text-block exhibit chipped edges (especially fore-edges). Previous ownership signature in old-hand found title page (verso). Loss of text to leave A3 (dedication page), lines 14-17 (recto) & lines 16-19 (verso) effected. General toning and age-staining throughout text-block. Pages 92-6 (approximately) exhibit water dampness stain at head of gutter. Repair tape exhibited on p. 93 (text still legible). Old-hand marginalia and diagram notes found on pages 128-9. Some off-setting around plates. Modern binding intact. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. John Wilkins (1614-1672) was an Anglican clergyman, natural philosopher, and author, and was one of the founding members of the Royal Society. He was the Bishop of Chester from 1668 to his death. Wilkins is one of the few persons to have headed a college at both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. He was a polymath. In the first twenty chapters of the Mechanicall Magick, traditional mechanical devices are discussed such as the balance, the lever, the wheel or pulley & the block and table, the wedge, and the screw. Wilkin's also gives an outlook on future technical research like flying, which he anticipated as certain if only sufficient exercise, research, and development would be directed to these topics. In Chapter VII, Wilkins discusses various methods on how a man could fly, namely by help of spirits and good or evil angels, by the help of fowls, by wings fastened immediately to the body or by a flying chariot. The most probably way, however, would be a flying chariot. "which may be so contrived as to carry a man within it." and be equipped with some sort of engine. An incredibly interesting work, even incomplete. Plates and illustrations present well and are intact in modern binding. A reading copy despite imperfections.…