Octavo full calf with gilt spine and 2 contrasting spine labels (split mid-spine though held by cords/chipped to head & foot of spine with some loss to foot/tips worn bit rubbed ) 28 contemporary biographies (vi) +(ii)+ 594pp + leaf of book adverts. Incl. Governor Franklin son of Benjamin Franklin and assistant at the famous kite flying discovery of the electricity lightening and later governor of New Jersey, Count Rumford and his experiments on heat, General Strutt governor of Quebec, Arthur Young and his contributions to agriculture etc.