Pesanteur spécifique des corps. Ouvrage utile à l'histoire naturelle, à la physique, aux arts & au commerce.

4to: [2]-xxiv-453-[1]-xx-[2] pp.; 2 pl. (some foxing, occ. stains).

Contemp. armorial binding: marbled calf, gilt triple fillet frame on boards, gilt central coat of arms, gilt-tooled spine with raised bands, crowned cypher LL, red leather title-label, sprinkled edges (rubbed, one joint partly split, sm. lacks on top turn-in, dulled corners).

Copy bound with coat of arms and cypher of Louis XVI King of France, of the first edition of this scarce book dedicated to minerals and fluid physics, studying almost 1.000 cases of metal, gems, flammable materials, "liqueurs" (waters, acid and alkaline materials, oils, gases), animal and vegetal substances... Complete with 2 plates by Sellier showing 36 figures of crystalline shapes of stones; woodcut vignette with the cypher of Louis XVI on title. Brisson (1723-1806) replaced Nollet at the chair of experimental physics of the "Collège de Navarre" and was one of the collaborators of Lavoisier who provided him some of the substances described here. Ref. Conlon 87:1512.- Olivier 2496 (see tools 1 and 13). Prov. Matthieu Marnottel (ms. mention on title). - Initials "W.W" (dry stamp). - [Georges Petit].