First edition, translated from German by Baron d'Holbach, illustrated with a frontispiece and 15 folding copperplate engravings.
Contemporary full calf binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label. Headcaps worn with visible endbands. Joint of lower board cracked at head over first two compartments. Surface wear with losses to upper board. Two corners slightly bumped. Title label renewed.
Compilation of several works on glassmaking assembled and translated by Baron d'Holbach (his preface presents the different authors), notably the important treatise by Neri (1612) who first published the method of making colored glass, crystal glass... Neri's work served as the basis and foundation for all books that followed on the same subject. One will note, among the various notes and treatises, that of Henckel on how to use plants in the manufacture of glassware, and the anonymous one on the secrets of true porcelain. Finally, one will distinguish numerous recipes relating to the art of glass, notably that of cobalt blue, but also concerning metals, with the method of gilding iron, copper, silver, bronzing, the way to produce colors, to dye a reddish horse black...
Manuscript ownership inscription De Montmirail. 1806.