Beschreibung der in England seit 1759 angelegten, und jetzt grösstentheils vollendeten schifbaren Kanäle, zur innern Gemeinschaft der vornehmsten Handelstädte. Nebst einem Versuch einer Geschichte der inländischen Schiffahrt, und aller, bis jetzt, in- und ausserhalb Europa bekannten schiffbaren Kanäle

Description:

First edition. Text German. Rare, particularly with plates hand-coloured. The final leaf provides a key for the colours used on the plates, and instructions for the binder.

A substantial and early German-language study of Britain’s rapidly developing canal network, produced at the height of the Canal Age. Hogrewe provides one of the first systematic continental surveys of English canal construction following the pioneering 1759 Bridgewater Canal, describing the engineering, routes, commercial purpose, and economic effects of the major waterways then completed or underway.

The work is notable not only as an important source for early British industrial transport history, but also for its ambitious “Versuch einer Geschichte der inländischen Schiffahrt,” an early attempt to trace the history of inland navigation, together with a comparative account of all known navigable canals within and beyond Europe up to the date of publication.

A valuable reference for collectors and scholars of canal engineering, early industrialisation, transport history, and Anglo-German scientific exchange, and an uncommon title on the market.

Condition

4to, near contemporary qtr leather, restored to head of spine, paper-covered boards, scuffed/worn. Occasional light foxing, some browning, a few light marginal stains. Good.