The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments

The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments (French: Traité de la construction et des principaux usages des instrumens de mathématique) is a book by Nicholas Bion, first published in 1709.^[1] It was translated into English in 1723 by Edmund Stone.^[2]

The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments

Illustration, labeled plate IX
Author	Nicholas Bion
Original title	Traité de la construction et des principaux usages des instrumens de mathématique
Translator	Edmund Stone
Language	French
Subject	Mathematical instruments
Publisher	Paris
Publication date	1709
Publication place	France
Published in English	1723
Media type	Print
Pages	[8] p., 347 p., [5], [28] leaves of plates
OCLC	48599327

The book describes ways to construct mathematical instruments. It was described as "the most famous book devoted to instruments" by historian of science David M. Knight.^[3]

Nicholas Bion

Nicholas Bion

Nicholas Bion (French: Nicolas Bion [bjɔ̃]; 1652–1733)^[4] was a French instrument maker and author with workshops in Paris. He was king's engineer for mathematical instruments. He died in Paris in 1733 aged 81.

Bibliography

Bion is the author of the following:^[4]

• L'usage des Globes Célestes et Terrestres et des sphères suivant les differents systèmes du Monde (Amsterdam, 1700)
• Usage des Astrolabes
• Traité de la construction et des principaux usages des instrumens de mathématique (Paris, 1709) (online version)