(A leading work of science in the 1700s, and a handsome example of the book as a work of art.)
Ferguson's Astronomy - A Resource And A Work of Art
In the 21st century, we take reading, writing and publishing for granted, but truth be told, it is a relatively recent phenomenon.
Writing and publishing in the 1700s was a very different experience from anything 21st, or even 20th century. All writing was done with a pen and ink, and printing was laborious.
A shop clerk in a small town might be able to read and write, but the cost of pen, paper, and ink was prohibitive. The average person didn't write much, and a single shelf of books was a prized possession. Books were written in long hand on sheets of paper, a craft generally reserved for the elite academic and idle rich, with some exceptions for some middle class who had the leisure time and money to indulge in the luxury. A tome such as this week's feature was an extravagant affair.
Astronomy: Explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles, And made easy to those who have not studied Mathematics by James Ferguson
Sheets of handwriting were taken to the printer whose job it was to order and place letter blocks of type that matched it. Even something as casual as a newspaper was at most a weekly affair, and only available in major cities. Printing happened one sheet at a time, inking the plate of text that was then pressed to locally made paper. Fortunately, by 1773 the Scottish goldsmith William Ged had invented the stereoplate, or stereotype, enabling entire pages of type to be cast, eliminating the need to set each letter and word by hand. After printing and cutting the pages, they were assembled and bound into book form. Bookbinding was a craft and an art, not an industry. This particular book is an exceptional piece of art, "bound by J. MacKenzie, Bookbinder to the King."
The writer James Ferguson (1710-1776) also adds interest to this book. He is considered a distinguished Scotsman of science. In the 1700s it was very unusual for a man of humble birth to rise so far above his station. He studied and tried many different occupations before finding success in the field of science, eventually becoming a Fellow at the Royal Society of London in 1763.
The writer James Ferguson (1710-1776) also adds interest to this book. He is considered a distinguished Scotsman of science. In the 1700s it was very unusual for a man of humble birth to rise so far above his station. He studied and tried many different occupations before finding success in the field of science, eventually becoming a Fellow at the Royal Society of London in 1763.
