Flint’s Surveying

Flint’s Survey was one of the most popular American surveying text during the first part of the 19th century. The treatise was designed to be self-teaching with but little assistance from an instructor. It is about simple metes and bounds land surveying with the compass and chain. It does not include details about other types of land or engineering surveying. The 100 foot chain is not even mentioned. One of the purposes of the book was to help surveyors in Connecticut qualify under a new state law that required practitioners to become more familiar with surveying theory than was previously necessary.

Copies of Flint dated before 1820 are not often seen, particularly ones that are complete and with an intact cover. While editions in the 1830’s and later are often found in better condition, ones of this date are generally in worse shape. This would be a nice addition to the library of an appreciative surveyor.

A book review of the work appears in the website of The Compleat Surveyor. Click here for the Flint Book Review

Size is 5.4” x 8.9” with 76 pages of text and 92 pages of appendix (mostly tables) plus 4 folding plates. The binding is intact although the cover is quite scuffed, particularly to the edges. The label on the spine is intact although the lettering is faint. The pages show foxing and, towards the rear, some moisture stains. The plates are complete but rough with improper folding and darkening and brittleness along the edges. The outer margins of the plates are badly folded and have short tears. The one pictured is generally typical.

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Payment and Shipping Information

1. Cashier’s check or money order preferred for faster shipping.
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3. California purchasers add 7.00% sales tax.
4. Domestic book rate shipping in the USA is $2.00, although not as prompt as priority.
5. Priority mail shipping within the USA is $3.95.
6. Insurance is extra and if not requested, buyer assumes liability for loss or damage.

Search words: survey, surveyor, surveying, level, plumb, alidade, mathematics, compass, chain, engineer.