Lavoisier

1801 · S14204 — Paris :: Deterville An IX 1801. 1801. 8vo. 197 x 122 mm xxx 2 443 pp. Three folding engraved plates. Speckled edges; paper flaws in K2 and O5 affecting text. Quarter-bound in 19th century half calf over brown marbled boards raised bands gilt-stamped title and gilt-rules on spine. Housed in a custom folding chemise and red quarter morocco and cloth slipcase raised bands gilt rules and gilt-stamped titles; light shelf wear. PROVENANCE: Robert Honeyman's copy. 261 Second edition second issue. "An entirely different issue of the usual 'Seconde edition.' Deterville has reprinted the entire book with the errata corrected in the text and the plates re-engraved by Tardieu l'aine Rue de Sorbonne No. 385. In the original edition the engraver had been de la Gardette who incidentally engraved Lavoisier's bookplate. The half-title with the titre de relais is present as before. The remark which appears at the end of the prior issue 'Le Privilege du Roi se trouve aux Memoires de l'Academie Royale del Sciences' is here omitted." Duveen & Klickstein. / This is Lavoisier's first major work. In this work on combustion and calcination which first appeared in 1774 Lavoisier first published his investigations into the nature and properties of gases in connection with numerous experiments and laid the basis of his antiphlogistic theory. Lavoisier gives a history of gases and a detailed account of his experiments. It was in this pioneer work that he broke ground that was new to him and asserted himself on an important question that was in controversy. The Opuscules one of Lavoisier's four major works resulted from his study on combustion and experiments with phosphorus and sulfur and the conversion of calces into metals. The work consists of a historical section and an introduction on gases; the second part describes his experiments dealing with the problems of combustion calcination and air fixation. / "Although Priestley isolated oxygen it was Lavoisier who discovered its real significance. He showed the true nature of the interchange of gases in the lungs and exploded Stahl's phlogiston theory." Garrison and Morton. / A native Parisian Lavoisier was one of the most important scientists of the 18th century. Because of his loyalty to the Ancien Regime Lavoisier fell into disfavor with the ruling National Assembly. He and his father were both arrested on 24 December 1793 tried on 8 May 1794 and executed by guillotine the same day. As the apocryphal story goes Lavoisier appealed at his trial for time to complete some scientific work at which the presiding judge replied "The Republic has no need of scientists." Authentic however is the remark attributed to Lagrange the day after Lavoisier's execution: "It took them only an instant to cut off that head and a hundred years may not produce another like it." / The half-title reads: "Cet ouvrage a l'exception des tables fut imprime pendant la detention du citoyen Lavoisier. Il ne faut donc pas etre surpris si l'edition n'en est pas belle ; on se rappelera sans peine qu'a cette epoque les matieres premieres manquoient pour l'impression. trans.: "This work with the exception of the tables was printed during the detention of Citizen Lavoisier. One should not be surprised if the edition is not beautiful; one will note without sorrow that this impression is without the errors of the first edition. ". PROVENANCE: From the celebrated Robert Honeyman IV library sold at auction by Sotheby Park Bernet & Co. May 12 1980 Part V Lot # 1933. REFERENCES: BM Readex Vol. 14 p. 998; Cole 770; DSB Vol. VIII pp. 66-91; Duveen p. 342; Duveen & Klickstein 123; Norman 1288 1st ed.; Partington III 372 V; Poggendorff I 1392. Deterville, An IX [1801]. hardcover