A Catalogue of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Designs

£24.50

A Catalogue of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Designs

Name: A Catalogue of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Designs
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6430
Price: 24.50 GBP
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A Catalogue of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Designs 1741-1792, John Smeaton — 1st Edition

Publication: London, Printed for the Newcomen Society by Courier Press, 1950

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 186.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original printed card wrappers remain completely structurally sound and firmly bound, showing only mild, age-appropriate toning and some gentle creasing down the spine. The rear cover exhibits scattered, faint spotting, though this does not compromise the overall presentation or stability of the wraps. Crucially, the sewn binding remains remarkably tight with no looseness or separation along the text block. Internally, the book is in excellent condition; the pages are bright, clean, and entirely free from tears, foxing, or previous ownership inscriptions, ensuring a crisp reading experience.

Catalogue Note: This 1st Edition was published as Extra Publication No. 5 by the esteemed Newcomen Society. The volume is supplemented with a frontispiece and six black-and-white plates reproducing John Smeaton’s original title pages, sketches, and engineering drawings.

Of particular note is the book's accompanying ephemera: loosely inserted is an advance copy of The Works of John Smeaton - A Chronological Survey by Trevor Turner, a paper presented at the Science Museum, London, on 13 December 1978.

While the catalogue itself occasionally appears on the market, copies retaining this highly relevant, supplemental academic insert are notably scarcer and provide fantastic contextual value.

Widely considered the first civil engineer, John Smeaton (1724–1792) left behind an extraordinary archive of technical designs spanning over fifty years of professional practice. This comprehensive catalogue, published by the Newcomen Society, systematically details his visionary work on windmills, steam-powered fire engines, bridges, canals, and river navigations. It provides an indispensable window into 18th-century industrial innovation, making it a critical reference volume for scholars of technological history and antiquarian engineering enthusiasts alike.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Smeaton

Book Publisher: Newcomen Society

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Technology, Engineering & Agriculture

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 186

Book Publication Year: 1950

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Softcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Extra Publication No. 5

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.