Boerhaave, Herman | A new method of chemistry, London, 1741

Boerhaave, Herman

A new method of chemistry, including the history, theory, and practice of the art, translated from the original Latin of Dr. Boerhaave’s Elementa Chemiae … by Peter Shaw, M.D. London: T. Longman, 1741

2 volumes, 4to (250 x 190 mm). 25 folding engraved plates on 17 sheets, woodcut head and tailpieces; a few stray spots. Full contemporary speckled calf, spines in six compartments, second gilt lettered on red morocco labels, third gilt numbered, others with repeat motif in gilt, edges speckled red; some rubbing to extremities with minor loss, joints tender, dust-soiled to top edge.

The first and best English translation of the authentic edition of Elementa chemiae (1732).

One of the most famous texts in the history of chemistry and the authoritative chemical manual for decades after its publication. Though called the second edition on the title-page, this is in fact the first edition of the official English translation of Elementa chemiae (1732). An earlier edition by Shaw had been published in 1727, but this was translated from the text’s 1724 unauthorized edition, lot 26 in this sale (Duveen). 

REFERENCES

Cole 169; Duveen, p. 84; ESTC 117633

PROVENANCE

Henry Home of Kames (armorial bookplate to upper pastedown) — Dr. Sydney Ross (booklabel to upper pastedown) — Joseph A. Freilich (booklabel to upper pastedown; Sotheby’s New York, 10 January 2001, lot 65)