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Spectacles are good, but not always ...

ADAMS, George.
Verhandeling over het zien, verklaarende kortlijk den aart van het zien, en het zamenstel van het oog; ten dienste van menschen, wier oogen zwak of ongesteld zijn; stellende hen in staat om een juist denkbeeld van de waare gesteldheid van hun gezicht te maaken, geevende de behoedmiddelen daar voor op, beneevens zekere regelen, om te weeten of men eenen bril noodig hebbe, en hoe dien als dan te kiezen, zonder dat hij het gezicht benadeele. Uit het Engelsch vertaald, en met aanmerkingen verrijkt door H. Aeneae.

Large folding engraved plate with 8 images concerning optics such as cross-sections of the human eye, camera obscura, glasses etc.

Amsterdam, H. Gartman, W. Vermandel, & J.W. Smit, 1792. 8vo. Original boards. Large folding engraved plate with 8 images concerning optics such as cross-sections of the human eye, camera obscura, glasses etc. (8), 174, (2) pp.

First and only edition of the Dutch translation after the second English edition of 1792 of this work on the anatomy of the eye, the use of spectacles and the improvement of vision by use of glasses. The first edition of Adams' work had appeared in 1787 under the title An essay on vision, briefly explaining the fabric of the eye. George Adams (1750-1795) was a famous London optician and served the king, George III, as a mathematical instrument maker. He earned a world wide reputation as a maker of spectacles and microscope lenses and was the author of many elementary scientific works, which were so planned as to comprise a regular and systematic instruction in the most important branches of natural science with all its modern improvements.
In this work, mainly directed to a lay, but wealthy and sophisticated public, he describes the anatomy of the eye, the nature of vision, and the roles of light, colour, and distances, in an effort to educate readers about caring for the eye, preserving vision, and choosing the right spectacles. He endeavoured "to do away a general prejudice in favour of spectacles and to diffuse more generally a knowledge of the subject among the vendors of this article, particularly those who live in the country. The final section gives an account of squinting, methods of ascertaining its nature, and the best remedies for its cure. "Mit seinem Werk gab Adams die wissenschaftliche Grundlage zur Argumentation gegen die von den Intellektuellen allgemein als schädlich erkannte Brillenmode in die Hand" (Münchow).
The translator Henricus Aeneae (1743-1810) was a teacher of maths and physics in Amsterdam and Pieter Nieuwland was one of his pupils. He was especially interested in optics, perspective and construction of optical instruments.

Good uncut copy.- (Wrappers somewhat worn).

Bierens de Haan, nr. 10; Wellcome II, p. 13 (2nd Engl. ed.); Hirschberg, paragr. 470; DNB 1, p. 97; On the translator and editor Aeneae, see NNBW I, cols. 8-9 and Van der Aa, I, 32.

Related Subjects: Anatomy Microscopy Ophtalmology Optics Scientific Instruments

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