John Imison - The School of Arts; or, An Introduction to Useful Knowledge - 1790

Fascinating and rare Second Edition of "The School of Arts" by John Imison, richly illustrated with spectacular folding plates.

Going to auction is this extraordinary scientific and industrial manual printed in London at the end of the 18th century. An authentic time capsule that documents advances in engineering, physics, clockmaking, and mechanics at the dawn of the British Industrial Revolution.

Details of the work:

- Weight: 845g
- Number of pages: 460
- Dimensions: 22x14x5 cm

- Illustrations: The work preserves spectacular copper-engraved plates and folding plates (folding plates) that illustrate in great detail machinery, electrical devices (Leyden jars), hydraulic mechanisms (water pumps), mill engineering, clockwork gears, and principles of anatomical drawing.

- History and Binding: Solid period full leather binding. Presents a fascinating historical detail for bibliophiles: a Spanish-speaking former owner had the work branded with the spine label in Spanish ("ESCUELA DE LAS ARTES"), showing the journey of this copy across borders.

- Interior: The block of pages is firm. The paper shows the characteristic browning and foxing marks totally normal in technical reference books over 200 years old. The folding plates are in very good overall condition.

- Minor defects: Evident creases and wear on the margins of the leather boards and ends of the spine, typical from use and the passage of centuries.

An exceptional technical encyclopedia, very hard to find with its plates in good condition. Ideal for collectors of the history of science, watchmaking, and technology. The photographs are an integral part of the description. It will be carefully packed and shipped with tracking number.