Sage, Balthazar-Georges | Descriptive catalogs of the mineralogical cabinet at the École Royale des Mines

Sage, Balthazar-Georges

Description méthodique du cabinet de l’École Royale des Mines [bound with:] Supplément à la description méthodique du cabinet de l’École Royale des Mines. Paris: L’Imprimerie Royale, 1784, 1787

Two volumes bound as one, octavo (196 x 121 mm). Woodcut printer’s devices on titles, headpieces and tailpieces in text; generally a fresh copy, with occasional pale spots. Contemporary spotted calf spine, vellum corners, paste paper boards, gilt ruled spine with red morocco label; skillful restorations to spine and joints, boards rubbed with a few spots of wear to the edges and corners.

Balthazar-Georges Sage’s scarce catalogs of the mineralogical cabinet at the Paris school of mines, a collection that the author had formed, housed at an institution he helped found. According to the Sage’s advertisement, the collection was one of the most comprehensive in Europe. The specimens are ordered by their chemical qualities. Each mineral is accompanied by a brief physical description and information about where it was found. 

REFERENCES

Schuh, 4241