Calculating Machine design of Boistissandeau c1735. A rare o...

Estimate

£150 - £200

Calculating Machine design of Boistissandeau c1735. A rare original print and supporting text pages relating to the 'Third Calculating Machine' of French Mathematician and inventor Hillerin de Boistissandeau (1704-1779). Published in 1735 within a 6 volume set of books by Jean Gaffin Gallon (1706-1775)- 'Machines et inventions approuvees par l'Academie Royale des Sciences, depuis son etablissment jusqu'a present: avec leur descriptions'.  All three of Hillerin's machines were illustrated in the same publication and the second and third were only slight improvements of his first. This third variation improved the tens carry mechanism. Hillerin's machine was ultimately similar to another calculating machine of the same period by Lepine (mentioned in the same set of books), but is still an early invention in the history of mechanical calculators. Consists of a fold out printed illustration and two related text pages all removed from a volume.