Books of the Day: the increasingly popular interest in collecting scientific works

Today on Facebook, Lindsay Thompson talks a little about collecting books on science. He references a fascinating article on the topic in Christie's auction house magazine, as well.

Here's some information on some of the books he talked about today:

Bell, J. Pettigrew, Animal Locomotion, Or, Walking, Swimming and Flying, With A Dissertation on Aeronautics (Appleton & Co, International Scientific Series, 1st American ed., 1874). Bell (1834-1908) was a renowned medico, naturalist, and museum director who developed an international reputation in the field of animal locomotion. This volume was his most popular work. Hardcover, no dust jacket. Embossed red boards, duodecimo, 264 pp, with 10 pp of advertising at back for other volumes in the series. Very good condition; illustrated throughout by 130 black-and-white wood engravings. Front end paper inked-in notation by ex-owner: “B.F. Stern, 1874.” Rare. HBB price: $175.

Thurston, Robert, A History of the Growth of the Steam Engine (Appleton & Co, International Scientific Series, 1st ed., 1878). Thurston (1839-1903) was a Civil War naval engineer, professor at the Naval Academy, Stevens Institute of Technology and Cornell. Hardcover, no dust jacket. Embossed red boards, duodecimo, 490 pp, with 2 pp of advertising at back for Appleton textbooks. Very good condition; illustrated throughout by 162 black-and-white wood engravings. Front end paper inked-in notation by ex-owner: “B.F. Stern, 1878.” Rare. HBB price: $175.

Croll, James, Discussions on Climate and Cosmology (D. Appleton & Co., 1st ed. 1886). Fascinating survey of weather and climate change from 125 years ago. Croll (1821-1890) was a Scots scientist who developed a theory that climate change occurred because of oscillations in the earth’s orbit. Hardcover, no dust jacket. Fine condition. No dust jacket. Octavo, 327 pp, with six pp of advertisements for other science books. Rare. HBB price: $100.

Henry Bemis Books is one man’s attempt to bring more diversity and quality to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg market of devoted readers starved for choices. Our website is at www.henrybemisbookseller.blogspot.com. Henry Bemis Books is also happy to entertain reasonable offers on items in inventory; for pricing on this or others items, kindly private message us. Shipping is always free; local buyers are welcome to drop by and pick up their purchases at our location off Peachtree Road in Northwest Charlotte if they like.

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