AUTHOR: LUNARDI, Vincent.
TITLE: An Account Of The First Aerial Voyage In England, In A Series Of Letters To His Guardian, Chevalier Gherardo Compagni, Written under the impressions of the various Events the affected the Undertaking,...
PUBLISHER: London: for the Author, 1784.
DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION SIGNED. 1 vol., 8-15/16" x 5-7/16", signed by Lunardi on the cover / half title, variant 2 with catchword on page 48 "I have" and final line of text "the subject of my ascension", 2 folding engraved plates, pages: (iv)66pp. & 1 page of explanation of the plates, adverts on verso, complete, uncut as issued with the original stitching, housed in a blue cloth clamshell slipcase, gilt lettered red leather spine label.
CONDITION: Occasional foxing, first and last leaf slightly darkened from handeling, otherwise A VERY GOOD UNCUT COPY.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This book was published within a month of Lunardi's flight on 15th September 1784 from the Artillery ground at Moorfields to near Ware, a distance of about 24 miles. This was the first flight in England, being preceded in Great Britain only by Tytler in Scotland.