The First Rational Classification of Minerals
Mineralogie, ou Description Générale des Substances du Regne Mineral.
Four folding engraved plates. xlvii, [1], 589, [2] pp., 2 leaves of Approbation; 1 p.l., 284, 256 pp. Two vols. 8vo, cont. mottled calf (two corners & ends of spine a little worn), spines gilt, red morocco lettering pieces on spines. Paris: Durand & Pissot, 1753.
First edition in French (1st ed.: 1747) of the author’s “first great work, which was received as an outstanding handbook of contemporary knowledge; never before had such a wealth of minerals been presented so systematically. Wallerius’ clear and precise descriptions, which gave more weight to essential chemical properties than to exterior appearance, opened a new epoch in mineralogy. The book became widely known in Europe through translations into German, French, Russian, and (later) Latin, and served as a model for later works.”–D.S.B., XIV, p. 144.
This French edition was translated by Holbach from the German edition of 1750. In his Preface, Holbach writes that the German translation is preferable to the Swedish original.
Our edition also contains Wallerius’ lengthy Hydrologie (1st ed.: 1748) in French translation. This work explains his classification of different kinds of water.
Wallerius (1709-85), predecessor of Tobern Bergman in the chair of chemistry at Uppsala, applied chemistry with great success to agriculture and made numerous investigations into the composition of mineral, vegetable, and animal substances.
Very good set.
❧ Hoover 862. Partington, III, pp. 169-72. Sinkankas 6986.
Price: $1,350.00
Item ID: 3471
