PRIESTLEY, Joseph. The History and Present State of Electricity, with original Experiments, London: J. Dodsley, J. Johnson, B. Davenport & T. Cadell, 1767, 4° (254 x 198mm.), FIRST EDITION, 8 engraved plates, including the specimen chart, all but one folding (some plates and leaves spotted, slight offsetting, slight worming to upper outer margin, upper margins of pp. 182-183 ink stained, stain to upper margin of about 30 leaves), contemporary calf (rebacked, covers scuffed), sprinkled edges. [Crook S/480; Norman 1748]

Details

PRIESTLEY, Joseph. The History and Present State of Electricity, with original Experiments, London: J. Dodsley, J. Johnson, B. Davenport & T. Cadell, 1767, 4° (254 x 198mm.), FIRST EDITION, 8 engraved plates, including the specimen chart, all but one folding (some plates and leaves spotted, slight offsetting, slight worming to upper outer margin, upper margins of pp. 182-183 ink stained, stain to upper margin of about 30 leaves), contemporary calf (rebacked, covers scuffed), sprinkled edges. [Crook S/480; Norman 1748]

Provenance

(?) S. C. Downe, owner inscription to title.

Lot Essay

"Though primarily remembered for his work with gases, Priestley was also the first historian of electricity ... Priestley's work gave a methodized account of previous discoveries and reviewed contemporary electrical studies; his account favoured Franklin's one-fluid theory, but was otherwise fairly impartial." [Norman]

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