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a drawing of a clock tower and a drawing of a clock towera book with a drawing of a boat and other thingsa drawing of a tower with a clock on top of itthree old books sitting on top of each other on a white surfacethe front cover of a book with a picture of a building in the backgroundan engraving of a portrait of a man with a sword in his handa drawing of a man working on a machine in a field
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33 - BELIDOR (Bernard Forest de). Hydraulic Architecture, or the …
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Estimate €400 - €600
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Description
BELIDOR (Bernard Forest de). Hydraulic Architecture, or the Art of Channelling, Raising and Regulating Water for the Various Necessities of Life. New edition with notes and additions by Mr NAVIER, engineer of the Royal Corps of Bridges and Roads. [- With new plates, the drawings for which have been revised or entirely redrawn by Mr Martin.] Paris, Firmin Didot, 1819–1810. 2 parts in 4 vols. in-4, veal-bound with root-stamped edges, plain decorated spine, title and volume number labels in red marble, marbled edges. A few minor scuffs. Foxing. The illustrations consist of a portrait of the author (followed by a report by Mr Navier on corrections and additions), 230 fold-out plates (44+12 bis in the 1st volume, 55 in the 2nd volume, 60 in the 3rd volume, 59 – out of 60 – in the 4th volume; plate 6 is missing). A new edition (based on the original of 1737–1739) of this important and highly influential work. Its scope extends beyond the title, as it covers the fields of mechanical and civil engineering. The first part is devoted to the principles of mechanics and hydraulics, to descriptions of various types of mills and pumps, to an analysis of the hydraulic machinery at the Pont Notre-Dame in Paris, to methods of distributing water to public fountains and basins, and to gardens (including a description of several inventions, such as the Marly machine which supplied water to Versailles), etc. The second part is devoted to preliminary studies for engineering works and to specific case studies: the history of Dunkirk from its origins up to 1712, and, in particular, the use of locks, including studies of the machinery used to drive in or remove piles, foundation slabs, basins, lock fittings, capstans for use by labourers in the locks, and a model cost estimate; descriptions of the most famous ports and their construction: Cherbourg, Bayonne, Dunkirk, the Tour de Cordouan upstream on the Garonne, Menin, Toulon, Westminster; the use of water in times of war; the creation of canals for navigation, irrigation and land reclamation.
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About the sale MONTIGNAC – 31st BOOK SALE – Day 1 of 4 – Nos. 1 to 549
Auction location
Auction time 08/19/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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