Mechanics.- Suardi (Giambattista)

Nuovi istromenti per la descrizione di diverse curve antiche e moderne…, FIRST EDITION, half title, title in black and red, engraved portrait of the Doge Francesco Loredan by Fortunato Pasquetti, 34 engraved folding plates, large engraved vignette on title page by Francesco Fontebasso, engraved head-piece and initial, both vignette and portrait engraved by Francesco Zucchi, minor spotting, contemporary vellum boards, spine gilt, inner hinge loose, [Poggendorff II, 950; Riccardi I (2), 479], folio, Gian Maria Rizzardi, Brescia, 1752.

*** First edition of this work by the Italian mathematician and inventor Giambattista Suardi. The best known of the ‘machines’ here described is the Geometric Pen or ellipsograph, an instrument by which is possible to draw more than 1200 geometric figures, many of them taking the shape of flowers. In March and April 1748 Boscovich wrote two letters to Suardi about the latter’s mechanical description of Cartesian ovals, letters published in the present work (pp. 62-79).