Youth's Book of Natural Philosophy

Full leather 18mo, 258pp. Gilt-stamped spine label. Fair to Good with front board detached; scuffing and scraping to the exterior, light foxing throughout. Two contemporary ownership inscriptions to front and rear endpapers. Set in mylar for handling. Spine titled “Comstock’s Com. School Philosophy.” Scarce. Early reprint; first published in Boston, 1834. An uncommon version of Comstock's most popular work, distilled for use in common schools. Comprising practical lessons in mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, acoustics, pneumatics, optics, and astronomy. Copious in-text woodcuts, including a vignette on the title page of two children attempting tug-of-war on boats, a charming illustration of a diving bell, and plenty of action-hand diagrams. A strip of period cloth is loosely inserted, delicate floral painting on the rear flyleaf, for which there are a few color splotches and pencil sketches on the front pastedown—charming reminders of its early owner.