Manuel du Minéralogiste; ou Sciagraphie du Règne Minéral, distribué d'après l'Analyse Chimique...Mise au jour par M. Ferber…et Traduite et augmentée de Notes par M. Mongez.
One engraved plate depicting chemical apparatus. lxxxviii, 343 pp. 8vo, cont. mottled calf, flat spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Cuchet, 1784.
First edition in French; this was an important work in the chemical classification of minerals. Bergman’s Sciagraphia regni mineralis, first published in 1782 in Latin, contains his general reform of nomenclature. “Following Linnaeus, Bergman divided inorganic substances into classes, genera, and species; and, as Linnaeus had done for plants and animals, he defined each class and genus by one word and each species by two. There were four classes: salts (including acids and alkalies as well as neutral salts), earths, metals, and phlogistic materials.”–D.S.B., II, p. 7.
Mongez (1751-88), has added to his translation extensive notes regarding each substance, citing works of other chemists and mineralogists.
Very good copy.
Cole 110. Hoover 114. Neville, I, p. 124. Partington, III, pp. 184-85.
Price: $1,250.00
Item ID: 2358
