Digest of Patents Relating to Breech-Loading and Magazine Small Arms (Except Revolvers), Granted in the United States from 1836 to 1873, Inclusive. Clasified and Arranged According to the Movement of the Principal Parts for Opening and Closing the Breech

Uncommon 1874 original edition of this accounting and illustrating of all "patents relating to breech-loading and magazine small arms granted in the United States from 1836 to 1873 inclusive". Tight and VG+ in its dark-brown cloth over light-brown bevelled boards. Bright, completely unflecked gilt-titling at the spine. Very light staining along the right edges of the first 3 pgs. (the title, copyright and preface pgs.), otherwise clean as could be internally, with no writing or markings to speak of. 780 photo-lithographed illustrations (patent drawings) by N. Peters thruout (formatted as 10 illustrations per page). The publisher's original "errata" slip bound-in at the rear. Tall quarto, new endsheets, 176 pgs. A nice piece of 19th century gun-manufacturing history.