[Werner, Abraham Gottlob] | First edition catalog of a mineral collection purchased by the Italian government from the Freiberg Bergakademie

[Werner, Abraham Gottlob]

Catalogo di una Collezione di Minerali disposta secondo il sistema del celebre Werner, ed acquistata per uso de’licei del regno d’Italia a Freyburg dalla direzione generale di pubblica istruzione. Milan: Stamperia Reale, 1813

8vo (225 x 140 mm, uncut). Half-title, contains index; creasing to several pages, a few stray stains and instances of faint foxing. Contemporary paper wrappers, manuscript title to spine; lightly soiled, tear at upper joint, some foxing, wear to extremities.

First edition—rare catalog of a mineral collection purchased by the Italian government from the Freiberg Bergakademie. 

The academy was where Werner wrote his Von den äusserlichen Kennzeichen der Fossilien (1774) as a student, and where he was later appointed professor of mineralogy and mining as well as curator of its mineral collection. Each of the 462 mineral specimens in the collection is listed with reference to physical and chemical properties, following Werner’s revolutionary system of descriptive mineralogy (Schuh).

REFERENCES

Schuh 3203