A Treatise on Surveying, Containing the Theory and Practice: To Which is Prefixed a Perspicuous System of Plane Trigonometry [Early American Engineering]
- A Very Good Hardcover
- Philadelphia: Kimber and Sharpless, 1843
Philadelphia: Kimber and Sharpless, 1843. A Very Good Hardcover. Very Good/None Issued.
A foundational pillar of 19th-century American science, this revised 14th edition captures the transition from colonial land-measurement to modern civil engineering.
Complete with its called-for folding plates and technical articles on the theodolite, it is a primary document of the mathematical rigor that built the American infrastructure. This copy, bound in its original mottled calf, is an essential acquisition for any collection focusing on the history of American mathematics or the evolution of surveying technology.
KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Includes several large folding plates and charts at the rear illustrating geometric principles and surveying projections.
+++ Binding: Original full mottled calf with a contrasting leather title label affixed to the spine featuring gilt lettering.
+++ Content: A comprehensive course in plane trigonometry and surveying practice, including the use of the theodolite and leveling techniques.
+++ Imprint: Published by Kimber and Sharpless, Philadelphia, 1843.
+++ Specs: Octavo (8vo); 8.75 inches tall; 152 pages plus charts.
CONDITION: The bindings are tight and square with no structural failures to the hinges. The original mottled calf shows moderate shelf handling and expected rubbing to the extremities and board edges. The text block is clean throughout, though characterized by the light, even age-toning typical of mid-century American paper. There is a small area of old damp-staining visible on the front fore-edge, which does not penetrate or affect the legibility of the text. Part of one rear free end page is excised.
SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Scholarly Influence: Gummere's 'Treatise' was the most widely used surveying manual in the United States for over three decades, influencing the mapping of the American West and the development of the national rail system.
+++ Historical Impact: Reflects the mid-19th-century shift toward precision instrumentation, moving beyond the simple compass and chain toward the complex optics of the theodolite.
+++ Contextual Analysis: Serves as a primary artifact of the Quaker contribution to American science, specifically through the educational standards established at Haverford.
+++ Mathematical Pedigree: John Gummere was among the most eminent mathematicians of the early Republic; his self-taught mastery led to his role as a co-founder of Haverford College.
+++ Technical Evolution: This 14th edition is historically significant for its 'Revised and Enlarged' content, specifically the addition of articles on the theodolite and topographic leveling.
+++ Folding Plates: Retains the critical folding charts at the rear, which provided the visual and practical geometry required for field application.
+++ Institutional Presence: Gummere's works are cornerstones of American scientific bibliography, frequently cited as the standard by which early 19th-century technical education is measured. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -
John Gummere was a self-taught polymath whose contributions to astronomy and mathematics made him a fellow of the American Philosophical Society. His surveying treatise was more than a textbook; it was a manual of expansion, used by land speculators, railroad pioneers, and civic planners during the height of the Manifest Destiny era.
This 1843 edition is particularly vital as it documents the 'Revised and Enlarged' state of the text. By adding sections on theodolite work and topography, Kimber and Sharpless ensured Gummere's work remained the gold standard for practitioners even as the technology of the field was being revolutionized by newer, more precise instruments.
SUBJECTS: American Mathematics, Civil Engineering History, Surveying, Trigonometry, 19th Century Science, Haverford College, Philadelphia Publishing, Technical Manual, Mathematics, Americana.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Sabin 29230, Checklist of American Imprints Citation: 43-2244 (Refers specifically to the Kimber and Sharpless 1843 edition).
A foundational pillar of 19th-century American science, this revised 14th edition captures the transition from colonial land-measurement to modern civil engineering.
Complete with its called-for folding plates and technical articles on the theodolite, it is a primary document of the mathematical rigor that built the American infrastructure. This copy, bound in its original mottled calf, is an essential acquisition for any collection focusing on the history of American mathematics or the evolution of surveying technology.
KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Includes several large folding plates and charts at the rear illustrating geometric principles and surveying projections.
+++ Binding: Original full mottled calf with a contrasting leather title label affixed to the spine featuring gilt lettering.
+++ Content: A comprehensive course in plane trigonometry and surveying practice, including the use of the theodolite and leveling techniques.
+++ Imprint: Published by Kimber and Sharpless, Philadelphia, 1843.
+++ Specs: Octavo (8vo); 8.75 inches tall; 152 pages plus charts.
CONDITION: The bindings are tight and square with no structural failures to the hinges. The original mottled calf shows moderate shelf handling and expected rubbing to the extremities and board edges. The text block is clean throughout, though characterized by the light, even age-toning typical of mid-century American paper. There is a small area of old damp-staining visible on the front fore-edge, which does not penetrate or affect the legibility of the text. Part of one rear free end page is excised.
SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Scholarly Influence: Gummere's 'Treatise' was the most widely used surveying manual in the United States for over three decades, influencing the mapping of the American West and the development of the national rail system.
+++ Historical Impact: Reflects the mid-19th-century shift toward precision instrumentation, moving beyond the simple compass and chain toward the complex optics of the theodolite.
+++ Contextual Analysis: Serves as a primary artifact of the Quaker contribution to American science, specifically through the educational standards established at Haverford.
+++ Mathematical Pedigree: John Gummere was among the most eminent mathematicians of the early Republic; his self-taught mastery led to his role as a co-founder of Haverford College.
+++ Technical Evolution: This 14th edition is historically significant for its 'Revised and Enlarged' content, specifically the addition of articles on the theodolite and topographic leveling.
+++ Folding Plates: Retains the critical folding charts at the rear, which provided the visual and practical geometry required for field application.
+++ Institutional Presence: Gummere's works are cornerstones of American scientific bibliography, frequently cited as the standard by which early 19th-century technical education is measured. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -
John Gummere was a self-taught polymath whose contributions to astronomy and mathematics made him a fellow of the American Philosophical Society. His surveying treatise was more than a textbook; it was a manual of expansion, used by land speculators, railroad pioneers, and civic planners during the height of the Manifest Destiny era.
This 1843 edition is particularly vital as it documents the 'Revised and Enlarged' state of the text. By adding sections on theodolite work and topography, Kimber and Sharpless ensured Gummere's work remained the gold standard for practitioners even as the technology of the field was being revolutionized by newer, more precise instruments.
SUBJECTS: American Mathematics, Civil Engineering History, Surveying, Trigonometry, 19th Century Science, Haverford College, Philadelphia Publishing, Technical Manual, Mathematics, Americana.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Sabin 29230, Checklist of American Imprints Citation: 43-2244 (Refers specifically to the Kimber and Sharpless 1843 edition).
Details
Title
A Treatise on Surveying, Containing the Theory and Practice: To Which is Prefixed a Perspicuous System of Plane Trigonometry [Early American Engineering]
Author
Gummere, John (1784-1845)
Binding
A Very Good Hardcover
Condition
Very Good
Publisher
Kimber and Sharpless: Philadelphia
Date
1843