Accum, Frederick Practical treatise on gas-light London 1818
Accum, Frederick. A practical treatise on gas-light: exhibiting a summary description of the apparatus and machinery best calculated for illuminating streets, houses, and manufactories, with carburetted hydrogen, or coal-gas: with remarks on the utility, safety, and general nature of this new branch of civil economy. London: printed by W. Clowes; for R. Ackermann; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; Sherwood, Neely and Jones; and J. Hatchard, 1818. x, (6), (xi)-xvii(1), 194 pp. + a folding hand-colored frontispiece, and six other hand-colored plates (one folding). 8vo, contemporary dark green straight-grained morocco, gilt borders with a large central medallion on each cover, spine and inner dentelles gilt, a.e.g. (slight rubbing). Fourth and final edition, with the author's last revisions; the first two editions had appeared in 1815, and the third in 1816. In its own way one of the defining books of Regency England. Frederick Accum was a chemist by profession, but in about 1810 he got involved with the publisher Rudolph Achermann, whop was active in the promotion of various artistic and scientific projects, to introduce into England the illumination of towns by gas. It is widely acknowledged that this book, published by Ackermann, was essentially responsible for the prompt adoption of this mode of lighting in London, and other large cities. With seven rather beautiful hand-colored plates, four of machinery, and three of various light fixtures and chandeliers. A fine copy, in a very attractive binding of the period.
£1250
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