Two Essays. I. An inquiry into the nature of the numerical contractions, found in a passage on the abacus, in some manuscripts of the geometry of Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boetius. II. Notes on early calendars.
1839. London: J.W. Parker, 1839.
Slim 8vo, 18, (1)pp. With a plate at the front. In brown papers wrappers. Extracted from a volume of pamphlets at some time.
§ First edition of this scarce little paper on early mathematics by the infamous Halliwell-Phillipps, whose entire life was dogged by financial problems and accusations (some apparently fairly well based) of theft and fraud. His life was well chronicled by Arthur Freeman and Janet Ing Freeman.
From DNB: “Phillipps, James Orchard Halliwell- (1820–1889), antiquary and literary scholar, was born on 21 June 1820 at 94 Sloane Street, Chelsea, the sixth of the seven children of Thomas Halliwell (1777–1849), a prosperous linen draper from Chorley, Lancashire, and his wife, Charlotte Ann (1789–1849), daughter of Esau Marsh of London. He took the additional surname Phillipps in 1872, following the death of his father-in-law, Sir Thomas Phillipps.”. Item #106426
Price: $100.00