Faujas de Saint Fond, Barthélemy | First edition of this important work on Volcanology

Faujas de Saint Fond, Barthélemy

Recherches sur les volcans éteints du Vivarais et du Velay. Avec un discours sur les volcans brûlans, des memoires analytiques sur les Schorls, la Zéolite, le Basalte, la Fouzzolane, les Laves et les differentes substances qui s'y trouvent engagées, &c. Grenoble: Joseph Cuchet, and Paris: Nyon and others, 1778

Folio (424 x 282 mm). Engraved title vignette, dedication leaf, engraved headpiece vignettes and initials in text, 20 engraved plates (1 double-page, 1 with hand color) by Fessard and others after De Veyrenc and others, 4-page subscribers list at end; occasional pale spots, a few leaves very lightly toned, marginal tear to the top edge of leaf 4F2 not affecting text. Contemporary mottled calf, gilt triple fillet borders, spine gilt tooled in 7 compartments, red Morocco lettering piece, all edges gilt; a few scuffs to boards and small spots of wear at edges. 

First edition. A tall, wide-margined copy of one of the most attractive and famous of all geological books, in which the author "established once and for all that basalt, a rock important scientifically because of its distinctive characteristics, its widespread occurrence and the manner of its association with other kinds of rocks, was the product of volcanic action" (Dictionary Scientific Biography, Faujas de Saint Fond).

The author was professor of geology at the Museum of Natural History, Paris. Rare—the last time this title appeared at auction was when this copy sold in 2001.

REFERENCES

Ward & Carozzi 779

PROVENANCE

Joseph A. Freilich (booklabel; Sotheby’s New York, 10 January 2001, lot 182)