Jean MAILLE
Exposition des propriétés du spalme, considéré comme courroi, pour la conservation des bâtimens de mer : comme enduit, pour celle des bois d'oeuvre & des corps en général : comme mastic, pour la jonction des marbres, des pierres & des métaux : avec la manière de l'employer sous ces trois rapports
Le Breton|Paris 1763|14 x 21.5 cm|Broché
First and only edition of this technical pamphlet, detailing numerous experiments conducted on ships using "spalme," a mixture of pitch and cement (in Le Havre, Honfleur, Nantes, etc.), with sworn statements from ship captains and references to merchants (in Le Havre and Rouen) supplying the miraculous coating—giving the work the appearance of a promotional brochure. The term "spalme" gave rise to the verb "espalmer" (from the Italian "spalmare"): to clean a ship’s hull and coat it with tallow using the palm (Latin "palma") of the hand.
A fleur-de-lis vignette bearing the word "spalme" as a tailpiece. Polak 6262.
Some minor foxing to the title page.
Rare copy preserved in its original state, unbound and without temporary wrappers.
€1,000