Jean-Antoine NOLLET

Illustrated edition. 4 plates for volume 1, 20 (including about 10 tables of the state of the sky) for volume 2, mostly full-page. 24 plates in total. Title pages in red and black.
Full brown marbled calf binding. Spine decorated, title labels in red morocco, and volume labels in black wax. Some rubbing. 2 bent corners. Nice copy.
The following remarkable articles are included in each of the sections mentioned:

• Observations du thermomètre faites pendant les grands froids de Sibérie, par M. Delisle.
• Recherche de statique et de dynamique, par M. le Marquis de Courtivron.
• Expériences de l'electricité appliquées à des paralytiques, par Mrs Morand et Nollet.
• Mémoires sur l'électricité, contenant la description d'un électromètre par M. le chevalier d'Arcy.
• Observations sur les pernicieux effets d'une espèce de champignon, par M. Le Monnier.
• Expériences et observations faites en différents endroits de l'Italie, par M. Nollet.
• Réflexions sur le principe de moindre action de M. Maupertuis, par M. le chevalier d'Arcy.
• Mémoire sur la cause des mouvements du cerveau, par M. de la Mure.

Illustrated edition with 5 plates for volume 1, 19 for volume 2 and 4 for volume 3, most folding, totaling 28 plates. Title pages in red and black.
Contemporary full marbled brown calf binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label and black wax volume label. Small section detaching at headcap. 3 corners slightly bumped. Rubbing. Headcap of volume 3 partially worn. Handsome copy.
Notable among the articles mentioned in each section are the following remarkable pieces: On measuring the diameters of the largest planets, by M. Du Hamel. Research on the causes of liquid boiling, by M l'abbé Nollet. Observations of the solar eclipse of July 25, 1748, by M. de Thury, Cassini, Maraldi. Memoirs on the variations observed in solstitial heights, both summer and winter, by M. de Thury. New invention of burning mirrors, by M. de Buffon. Observations of the sun's vertical diameter at the time of its passage through apogee, by M. Le Monnier. On figures and solids circumscribed to the circle and sphere, by M. Zanotti.

New edition, the volumes comprising three different editions (1749, 1753 and 1764), as is very often the case for this work when it is in a uniform binding, with editions and reprints spread over time. Illustrated with a frontispiece and 116 folding plates; particularly appreciated illustrations, especially astronomy plates.

End-of-18th century half calf binding. Spines richly decorated in gilt. First volume with a 2 cm split at the upper edge. A tear with missing spine-end on volume 2. Worm damage to tail of volume 3. Title pages of volumes 2 to 6 with two pieces of paper pasted, probably to conceal stamps. Page 102 of volume V cut at the bottom of the page (not affecting the text). A good copy, particularly fresh and attractively decorated.

Along with Le Spectacle de la nature, Leçons de physique expérimentale is undoubtedly the most famous work of scientific popularization of the French monarchy; both works are evidence of public interest in science and its achievements in the second half of the 18th century. The first three volumes are about mechanics, hydrostatics and the properties of air, the fourth water and fire, the fifth light and optics, and the last astronomy, magnetism and electricity. In each of these fields, Nollet describes numerous physics experiments.