POTT, Johann Heinrich. Lithogéognosie ou examen chymique des pierres et des terres en général, et du talc, de la topaze & de la stéatite en particulier, avec une dissertation sur le Feu & sur la Lumière. 1753.
POTT, Johann Heinrich.
Lithogéognosie ou examen chymique des pierres et des terres en général, et du talc, de la topaze & de la stéatite en particulier, avec une dissertation sur le Feu & sur la Lumière.
Paris, Jean-Thomas Hérissant, 1753.
12mo (158x94 mm), viii-431-(1 bl.)-93 (misnumbered 103)-(1 bl.) pages and one plate. binding : Contemporary full mottled calf, spine gilt in six compartments, title in gilt on lettering-piece, red edges. Upper cap and 2 corner finelly repaired.
First edition in French, rare first issue, in one volume.
The second issue, published later the same year is in two volumes.
references: Neville [ II, p. 331 : "The serious study of chemical petrology by French chemists dates from 1753, when d'Arclais de Montamy published his translation of th 'Lithogeognosia' of J.H. Pott. An incomplete so called first issue, by the same publisher appeared earlier in 1753"]; Duveen [p. 483 : " The author was a disciple of G. E. Stahl, and in the present work did much to promote the knowledge of chemical analysis. He was the first to treat of Bismuth and its compounds and discovered silicic acid. An account is giver, in this book, of the investigations carried out by Pott at the request of the King od Prussia, to ascertain the composition of porcelain. According to Thomas Thomson, Pott was beyond question the most learned and laborious chemist of his day, and his historical introductions display the extent of his reading."].
Price : 450 €
