This is far and away the earliest book on mathematical instruments we’ve ever had. I also think it is the best. It was published in 1836 and is titled "A Treatise on the Principal Mathematical Instruments Employed in Surveying, Levelling, and Astronomy: Explaining Their Construction, Adjustments, and Use." It was written by Frederick W. Simms, Surveyor & Civil Engineer of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

This volume is 118 pages long and is hardbound. It is a large book for its time--measuring 6 x 9 inches. It is lavishly illustrated with wood cuts of instruments. Additionally (and this is almost too good to be true), the volume concludes with a "Catalogue of Instruments Made By Troughton and Sims." The book is in very good condition; it is very tightly bound and has only quite minor edge wear.

The contents proceed as follows: SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS: The Land Chain, The Surveying Cross and Optical Square, The Prismatic Compass, The Vernier, The Plane Table, Method of Using the Plane Table, The Theodolite, Captain Everest’s Theodolite; LEVELLING INSTRUMENTS: The Y Spirit Level, Troughton’s Improved Level, Mr. Gravatt’s Level, Levelling Staves, Troughton’s Levelling Staves, The New Levelling Staves, Description of the Mountain Barometer; ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS: The Sextant, Troughton’s Reflecting Circle, The Box Sextant, The Artificial Horizon, The Dip Sector, The Portable Transit Instrument, Method of Determining the Longitude by Observed Transits, Professor Bessel’s Method of Finding the Latitude with a Transit Instrument, The Altitude and Azimuth Instrument, The Description and Adjustments of the Reading Microscope, Use of the Altitude and Azimuth Instrument, To Compute the Reduction to the Meridian, To Determine the Latitude of a Place, Method of Observing Equal Altitudes and Azimuths, Determination of Time by Equal Altitudes, Method of Finding Differences of Latitude and Longitude by Trigonometrical Measurement, Method of Finding the Longitude by the Eclipses of Jupier’s Satellites.

There is also an appendix on protracting and plotting and the instruments employed. After this there are 12 tables, and after that, the Troughton and Simms Catalog. This catalog includes mathematical instruments of all kinds--surveying, astronomical, and levelling. They also sell microscopes and windmills (and they are listed here).

The text is extremely detailed--it meticulously lays out the construction of each instrument, then elaborates on both when and how to use it.

This is a very special, very early, and beautifully illustrated volume. It would make an invaluable resource for and prized addition to any collector’s library.

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