Aéronautique

ASTRA CASTRA: Experiments and Adventures in the Atmosphere

1865 · 31117 — London: Chapman & Hall 1865. First Edition. THE DEDICATION COPY. A Copy with Fine Provenance being the copy given by the author to his mother the true dedicatee of the book as noted in the printed Dedication itself which reads "To The Lady Caroline Turnor and Christopher Turnor in Grateful Rembrance of Their Parental Care.This Volume is Dedicated by Their Son. The volume is further inscribed by hand as follows: <br><br>"My dear Mother<br> from her son Hatton<br>Knowledge is not Wisdom.<br>Knowledge puffeth up but Charity edifieth<br><br>This work was begun October 1863 &<br>finishes October 1864 from October till June<br>it was going thro' the prep<br> 21 June 1865" Profusely illustrated throughout including a chromolithographic frontispiece a photographic print tipped to the dedication page and 40 other full-page photozincographic plates on heavy paper and textual illustrations throughout in great number. Folio 326 x 252 mm. publisher's original royal-blue cloth the spine lettered in gilt the upper and lower covers decorated in gilt and blind original coated endleaves top edge gilt. xxiii 530 pp. A very handsome copy and very well preserved a little evidence of shelving and a little evidence of age but a very pleasing copy especially desirable in its present condition. THE DEDICATION COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION A COPY WITH WONDERFUL PROVENANCE. THE COPY GIVEN BY THE AUTHOR TO HIS MOTHER THE DEDICATEE OF THE BOOK WITH HIS PERSONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT WISDOM KNOWLEDGE PUFFERY AND CHARITY NOTED IN THE PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION AS WELL AS A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS OF THE CREATION AND PRODUCTION OF THE BOOK.<br> Hatton Turnor's work covers and offers a vast survey of aeronautics and the literature available up until the time of the publication of his own work. The author gives a fine preface to the work in which he notes that his is the first great English publication devoted to the panorama of aeronautics. Chapters included are devoted to a study of the development of aeronautics from ancient times to the present to the ascents made from 1800 until 1864 to the subject of balloons used during war time to aerostats to the physical experience of ballooning in calm and storm to a caricature of the science itself and to a survey and consideration of the future of aeronautics.<br> The work is superbly illustrated throughout including the chromolithograph and original photograph at the front and the 40 additional full-page plates produced on heavy stock. Chapman & Hall hardcover