The History and Present State of Discoveries Relating to Vision, Light, and Colours

The History and Present State of Discoveries Relating to Vision, Light, and Colours. London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1772.

First edition, quarto, v, [9], xvi, 812, [12]p; folding engraved chart bound opposite title page; illustrated with 24 folding engraved plates; bound in nicely rebacked modern full sheepskin, neatly done in period style; minor offsetting in a few plates as usual but internally clean and superb. 10 x 8 in. Crook S/479; ESTC T36343.

Joseph Priestley, a household name for his famous discovery of oxygen gas, was a notable English scientist. This comprehensive account of the discoveries and properties of light, colour and vision provides an elaborate history of Optics from the early days, through Newton's contributions and offers a contemporary analyses and discussion, including Priestley's own theories and experiments.

Just like his History of Electricity (1767), this account was highly popular in the scientific community as "the only English work on the subject for 150 years and the only one in any language for over 50".