[Powell, Thomas] | Human inventiveness.

[Powell, Thomas]

Humane industry, or, A History of Most Manual Arts… London: Printed for Henry Herringman, 1661

8vo (162 x 102 mm). Title within ruled border; marginal browning to title, light toning, some spotting, C2–7 partially loose, lacking last 2 blank leaves. Full calf in period style. 

The author combines brief but wide-ranging pieces (his references are as diverse as Pliny and Purchas) on the invention and evolution of clocks, watches, globes and spheres, writing and writing instruments, printing and printing presses, painting, spinning and weaving, musical instruments, sailing ships, glassware, and even aeronautics. The wooden dove of Archytas and the wooden eagle and iron fly of Regiomontanus are all discussed under the heading of "De Spiritalibus Machinis, or Wind-Motions."  There are also more esoteric references to dancing elephants, chess-playing monkeys and guitar-strumming baboons.

REFERENCE:

ESTC R8532; Wing P3072