Marc Michel Rey

The rare French first edition, illustrated with 9 folding plates containing 22 figures. The first edition, in Italian, dates from 1765. Two manuscript leaves in fine handwriting are bound at the rear on the properties of gunpowder, with a comparative table of tests for sulphur, saltpetre and charcoal.

Later binding, ca. 1830, in full glazed navy calf. Spine with raised bands handsomely decorated with central tool and corner tools in each compartment, roulette at head and foot, geometric roulette on bands, repeated as interior border. Green calf title-label. Framing border on boards. Edges gilt. Rubbing to boards, particularly the upper board, with scratches.

Important scientific treatise in the field, whose author was one of the most eminent specialists of his time. Besides being an engineer, Papacino d'Antoni was an artillery officer and director of the royal artillery and engineering school of Turin, and composed various military treatises. In this canonical scientific treatise on the chemistry and physics of gunpowder, the theories and hypotheses advanced by the author are demonstrated through multiple experiments.

Very handsome copy, exceptionally fresh, in an unsigned master binding.

First edition illustrated with two title vignettes designed by Picart.

19th-century black Bradel binding in full boards. Orange calf title labels. Small rubbing to headcap. Handsome copy.

A major work on generation and embryology, in which one discovers the hypothesis of chromosomes as well as that of environmental influence. Bonnet perfects his thesis according to which every being exists previously in germ form in nature, thus the embryo already exists in the seminal fluid, and generation is merely the simple development of the germ, which, from small, develops through nutrition; the germ already containing everything that will be developed. Although Bonnet develops the extensions and consequences of this fundamental postulate, this in no way prevents him from penetrating the mysteries of embryology and fertilization. The germ thesis seeming a middle ground between spontaneous generation and procreation, it appears a solution to the theoretical impasse to which spontaneous generation leads, contradicted by observations, in which Bonnet possesses great finesse. Bonnet is not only interested in mammals but extensively in plants and earthworms.

Librairie Alain Brieux label.

First edition.
Contemporary full brown calf binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with 5 fleurons. Red morocco title-label. Triple gilt fillet frame on boards. Rubbing to headcaps, joints, edges and corners. 2 corners slightly bumped. Good copy.
Treatise on the courtier, and the manner of conducting oneself with princes.

Fragility of the courtier's position and utility of diplomacy.