Beschreibung:

Caus (Isaac de). New and Rare Inventions of Water-Works Shewing the Easiest waies to Raise Water higher then the Spring. By which Invention the Perpetual Motion is proposed Many hard Labours performd and Varieties of Motions and Sounds Produced … now Translated into English by John Leak, printed by Joseph Moxon 1659, engraved architectural title, 26 numbered engraved plates, numerous woodcuts in text, woodcut initials, type ornament headpieces, minor soiling and marks to margins of title-page and plates, contemporary ownership inscription in ink to front endpaper ‘Mr Jn Emerson & L Margaret Lidell’, contemporary blind-ruled full calf, rubbed and slight wear, with spine renewed and repair to top margin of upper cover, folio (32.7 x 21.5 cm) (Qty: 1) Norman 417; Thorndike VII pp. 592-593; Wellcome II, p.315; Wing C1527. First edition in English, a translation of the Nouvelle invention de lever l'eau (Moxon, 1644) illustrated with the same plates. Isaac Caus's text and illustrations were adapted from his uncle or father Salomon de Caus's Les raisons des forces mouvantes avec diverses machines (Frankfurt 1615), an important work for the development of technology and particularly that of the steam engine. Isaac de Caus was a pioneer in the construction of life-sized automata, several of which are illustrated here. The present treatise also includes descriptions of a fire engine, various pumps, several types of musical organs, and a sluice. He collaborated with Inigo Jones on the design of Wilton House and its gardens.