EMERSON (William):

The Art of Surveying, or Measuring Land. Containing. I. The Work to be Perform'd in the Field, as taking all necessary Dimensions and Measures. II. Concerning Protracting, Reducing, Casting up, and Dividing. III. Measuring inaccessible Heights, and Distances.

London: Printed for J. Nourse..., 1770. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 8vo, 205 x 130 mms., pp. [ii], iii [iv blank], 138, 26, 5 folding plates, disbound. Emerson (1781 - 1782) was one of the 18th century's most prolific writers on practical mathematics and it use in everyday life. He notes in his preface that the techniques of surveying can be traced to antiquity and cites the division of land in Egypt as early examples of its practical results. There were objections to surveying land in 17th and 18th century Britain, on the grounds that it penalized tenants and other inhabitants.

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Book number: 6879

Catalogue: Surveying

Keywords: surveying mathematics prose