A TREATISE UPON AEROSTATIC MACHINES. CONTAINING RULES FOR CALCULATING THEIR POWERS OF ASCENSION

Birmingham: printed by Pearson and Rollason; and sold by R. Baldwin, 1785. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo, viii, 63 pages; VG; bound in 3/4 brown calf, marbled boards; gilt titling to spine; lower front hinge cracking, with tail of spine chipping; with two folding plates in rear; interior clean; incredibly scarce; MW consignment; shelved case 10. Little is known about Southern's Life. Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) introduced Southern, aged 24, to James Watt, whereupon Southern became Watt's assistant and right-hand man. He co-invented the indicator diagram with James Watt, in 1796, and became a partner of the firm of Boulton & Watt in 1810.




A Treatise on Aerostatic Machines is his only known book, although he did contribute to the 1814 Encyclopedia Britannica regarding steam and steam engines.




The 1895 Aeronautical Annual lists this title as being one of the rarer works in the collection of the Editor of the Annual.




John Watt is perhaps best known for his 1776 Watt steam engine, one of the driving forces of the Industrial Revolution.




Title continues: 'a demonstration of the forces which have a tendency to distend or burst them; and an extensive table.';




ESTC T14145. 1321947. Shelved Dupont Bookstore. (Inventory #: 1321947)