The Young Gentleman and Lady's Philosophy, in a continued survey of the Works of Nature and Art; By Way of Dialogue. Volumes I

A very scarce complete set of the Young Gentleman and Lady's Philosophy, which explores a range of scientific subjects through a dialogue between Cleonicus, an Undergraduate, and Euphrosyne, who is his sister. Volumes I and II are the second edition - revised and corrected, and Vol III is a first edition which was published 10 years later. In contemporary full calf bindings with 3 frontispieces and 72 plates as called for. The author, Benjamin Martin (1704-1782), started working life as a plough boy, became a teacher and later a travelling lecturer in natural philosophy - having studied mathematics and astronomy and been left a legacy which he used to further his studies. A follower of Newton, he published his first work (Bibliotheca Technologica), which was a success and began to invent and make optical instruments. He went on to become famous as a scientific instrument maker and published many popular scientific works. The books are bound in full calf with gilt-lined raised bands to the spines which have title and volume labels (Vol I's number label is stamped 'J') and a very decorative floral design to the remaining compartments. The spine ends have decorative bands and the boards have a gilt border and gilt lining to the edges. There is some splitting at the spine joints but no separation of the boards, which are firmly attached. The corners are rubbed, with some loss to the gilt border, and are turned inwards. Board surfaces have some scuffing. Page edges and the endpapers are marbled. Volume III was clearly bound later and the marbling to the edges is paler and the design on the endpapers slightly different. Internally the initial blanks have the ink signature A Moulton. Contents - Vol I: half title; frontispiece; title; dedication 1p; Preface 2pp; contents list 4pp; text 1-408 with 33 plates - 4 folding; index 16 pp; directions to binder. Page marker present. Vol II: frontispiece; title; contents 6pp; text pp 1-416 with 20 plates - 6 folding; index 15pp. Vol III: half title; frontispiece; title; advert; contents 11pp; text pp 1-366 with 19 plates; index 14pp; plate list for binder. The contents are in very good clean condition with light toning, the occasional mark and old top corner tip crease. There are a couple of small repaired edge tears. Vol III has some pale marking and some browning around the edges, particularly later in the work. Vol II has a small hole in the final blank, and Vol III has lost a section of the initial blank and a section from the side edge of the rear free endpaper and has some top edge nibbling to the half title. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images.