The Microscope Made Easy:

Early modern fun with microscopes. Second edition, enlarged (originally published the previous year), of this early popular work on microscopy. It contains detailed, practical information about microscopes alongside numerous suggestions for experiments such as growing microscopic 'eels' in bookbinder's paste and examining blood, semen, and water that had soaked various botanical materials.

Henry Baker (1698-1774) was apprenticed as a bookseller before becoming a successful teacher of deaf people. He was a fellow of the Royal Society, a 'typical natural philosopher of his time, keenly interested in the wonders of nature, as manifesting the power of the creator. From 1740 Baker's literary skills were used in prose, embodying his scientific discoveries... The book that established his name as a scientific writer was The Microscope Made Easy, which appeared in 1742, and achieved five editions in the author's lifetime, as well as translation into Dutch and French' (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). His most important scientific study, for which he was awarded the Copely Medal, was a microscopical investigation of crystal structure. He also experimented on freshwater polyps, basing his work on that of Abraham Trembley, and this second edition includes 'some further accounts' of the species.

Second edition; 8vo (19 x 11.5 cm); folding chart and 15 engraved plates of which 11 are folding, one plate shaved closely just touching the numeral, contemporary ownership inscription to the front free endpaper, a few small spots but overall contents clean; contemporary calf, 5 raised bands to spine, double gilt fillets, red morocco label, red speckled edges; binding a little rubbed and scuffed with wear at the corners and spine ends, an excellent, unsophisticated copy; 311pp.