Recueil de dissertations physico - chimiques, présentées à différentes académies

First edition, rare, illustrated at the end with 7 folding plates, 6 of which are numbered (they have been bound in relative disorder) presenting different tables of chemical elements including the one proposed by Demachy.
Contemporary binding in full glazed blonde calf. Spine with raised bands ornately decorated. Red morocco title-label. Triple-ruled gilt frame on boards. A lack to the lower joint at head affecting the headcap. Scuffing on the boards and edges wearing away the gilding of the fillets or roll on the fore edges. A handsome copy in a quality binding nonetheless.
Collection composed of 16 studies that were submitted to European Academies or learned societies, from 1753 to 1773; their chronological table can be found in the preliminary leaves. The subjects are varied and typical of research of the period: On an electrical phenomenon, on oils, on bitumen from seawater, on volatile salts... the most important article being The exposition of a new table of the principal chemical combinations. The work is found in the inventory of the physics and chemistry library of Antoine François Fourcroy, famous French chemist.