Description:

Super Rare 1st Edition of George Pocock's "The Aeropleustic Art, or, Navigation in the Air by the Use of Kites or Buoyant Sails"

A first edition copy of George Pocock's "The Aeropleustic Art, or, Navigation in the Air by the Use of Kites or Buoyant Sails" (Dedication signed in type as George Pocock, Prospect Place, Bristol, May 1st, 1827; Colophon: W. Wilson, Printer, 57, Skinner-Street, London). Featuring a total of four hand-colored aquatints by P. Roberts after Thomas Buttersworth and Samuel Colman. Title page engraved by A. Adlard. Quarto morocco over marbled boards, with gilt-embossed spine. Bearing the ex-libris plate of William G. Gerhard, a serious collector of aeronautical collectibles, affixed to the front pastedown endpaper; featuring a hot air balloon, the book plate also includes Gerhard's logo "Per Aspera ad Astra," or, "Through Hardships to the Stars." Expected wear to the covers including rubbed binding and partly cracked spine. Scattered mild to moderate foxing within, and a few isolated pencil marks and inscriptions. A mild odor of smoke, else near fine. 51pp. 9" x 11.25" x .375." 4to.

Of the stunning aquatints included in the book, there is a full-length plate entitled "A Boat Race," depicting Pocock's proposed application of kites to serve as "auxiliary sails to the navy, merchantman, trading vessels, &c." (p. 18-19). Two more full-length plates, the first entitled "Patent Kit and Charvolant" and the second "Charvolants travelling in various directions with the same Wind" shows schematic diagrams and artistic representations of Pocock's most famous innovation, the charvolant, or kite-drawn carriage, patented in 1826. The vehicle could travel up to 20 miles per hour, propelled solely by airborne kite power!

George Pocock (1774-1843), a school teacher and minister, is best known for his air-powered inventions. In the 1820s, Pocock began experimenting with human-lifting kites. He soon applied the same principles of design to transporting loads, and later to propelling vehicles.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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