1781/1785 Scheele TRAITÉ CHIMIQUE & SUPPLEMENT 2 vl SET DISCOVERY of OXYGEN / LANDMARK of PHOTOGRAPHY Start Price USD 1,880.00 Current Price USD 1,880.00 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, July 22, 2008 End Time Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Location Beromünster, LU See more about '1781/1785 Scheele TRAITÉ CHIMIQUE & SUPPLEMENT 2 vl SET' Description 1781/1785 Scheele TRAITÉ CHIMIQUE & SUPPLEMENT 2 vl SET DISCOVERY of OXYGEN / LANDMARK of PHOTOGRAPHY Scheele, Carl Wilhelm Traité Chimique de l'Air et du Feu avec une Introduction de Torbern Bergmann...& Supplement au Traité Chimique..traduit et augmenté par le Baron de Dietrich. Paris, Rue et Hotel Serpente, 1781 & 1785. Small in-8. 6.6 x 3.8 & 7.3 x 4.3 inches. Pages: xliv, 268; xiv, [2], [13] - 214. Complete. With 1 engraved folded plate to each volume and wdct headpieces. Contemp. full tree calf (Traité) & new full calf (Suppl.) binding with rich gilt tooling to spines. Marbled endpapers to Traité. Duveen p. 53 (English and French editions only); Cole 1165; Partington III, 211 ("Very rare"). First edition in French. "This work contains Scheele’s discovery of oxygen, made independently of Priestley. He shows that air consists of two gases one of which supports combustion while the other does not. The former identified with fixed air obtained from saltpeter, nitric acid, black oxide of manganese, etc. He endeavoured to associate several phenomena with the action of this gas, particularly connecting it with the respiratory function and growth of plants," [Duveen]. The work is a milestone in the development of both organic and inorganic chemistry and reflects the genius of a man who had outstanding chemical ability. First published in 1777 under the title Aeris atque ignis examen chemicum (Upsala and Leipzig), the work is of legendary rarity and contains a privilege by Lavoisier, Berthollet and Condorcet. The work is also an important source book for the history of photography [See my catalogue Incunabula of Photography and Pre-History Cinema, No. 66]. SUPPLEMENT: Partington III, 211, VIIB ("Very scarce"); Cole 1166: "The Supplement, translated by Baron Dietrich, contains Leonhardi’s survey of the newly discovered gases as well as other extra material found in the German 2nd edition. An author index has been added." Superb 2 volumes set of this GREAT CLASSIC, both firm copies. Condition Traité: Some rubbing to binding and wear with some worming to joints, but still holding well, spine ends with wear. Inside clean. Minor even tone aging to plate. Old library stamps to B4 and D3 Supplement: Excellent rebinding. Light even tone aging & occasional spotting. Light even tone aging to plate. Antiquariat Daniel Good, Lucerne - Switzerland Place a Bid!