NEUMANN, Caspar.

Lectiones Publicae von Vier Subjectis Chimicis, Nehmlich vom Salpeter, Schwefel, Spiess-Glas und Eisen, wie solche bey dem in Berlin gestiffteten Königl. Collegio Medico-Chirurgico abgehandelt worden.

7 p.l. (lacking a blank leaf), 440 pp. 4to, cont. smooth vellum over boards. Berlin: J.G. Michaelis, 1732.

[bound with]:

-- . Disquisitio de Ambra Grysea...sammt einem Kurtzen Vorbericht solcher Memoire halber, Anietzo, weil wenigen Personen die Engländische Transactiones Philosophicae vorkommen, in deutscher Sprache pobliciret, von Einem Liebhaber der Historiae Naturalis. 8 p.l., 116 pp. 4to. Dresden: G.C. Hilschern, 1736.

[bound with]:

-- . Lectiones Publicae von Vier Subjectis Pharmaceutico-Chemicis, nehmlich vom Gemeinem Saltze, Weinstein, Salmiac und der Ameise, wie solche bey dem in Berlin gestiffteten Königl. Collegio Medico-Chirurgico abgehandelt worden. 4 p.l., 379, [1] pp. 4to. Leipzig: G.B. Frommann, 1737.

A very attractive sammelband of three of Neumann's most important collections of writings. Neumann (1683-1737), "studied pharmacy, travelled with the king as his apothecary, and also at his expense in Germany, Holland and England, where he resided for five years. He returned to Berlin, made fresh journeys to England, France and Italy, was appointed Court apothecary and afterwards professor of practical chemistry in the Medico-Chirurgical College, and in 1724 he was made supreme surveyor of the apothecaries in Prussia. He was a member of the Royal Societies of London and Berlin...

"He published his prelections at the request of his friends, so that the scope of his teaching might be known. He was an energetic and successful chemist."­Ferguson, II, p. 137.

As Court apothecary, he took on the demanding job of running one of Europe's busiest pharmacies.

I. First edition of Neumann's lectures on saltpeter, sulphur, antimony, and iron.

II. First edition of his notable work on amber. There are a number of references to the researches on the nature of amber undertaken in Boston by Boylston, Atkins, and Prince.

III. First edition of Neumann's lectures on salts, cream of tartar, sal-ammoniac, and formic acid.

Fine copies. With two contemporary engraved armorial bookplates -- "Ex Bibliotheca Kleiniana" and "Ex Bibliotheca Gralathiana."

D.S.B., X, pp. 25-26. Ferguson, II, pp. 136-37. Partington, II, pp. 702-06.

Price: $5,500.00

Item ID: 371