Werner, Abraham Gottlob | First edition of the author's last major work

Werner, Abraham Gottlob

Neue Theorie von der Entstehung der Gange, mit Anwendung auf den Bergbau. Freiberg: Gerlach, 1791

8vo (170 x 98 mm). Black letter type, engraved ornament to title page and tailpiece to final page; light foxing and toning to text throughout. Contemporary half calf over decorative boards, spine in five compartments, second with red gilt-lettered label, third with manuscript numerals, edges stained red; corners bumped, decorative paper torn and folded at inner bottom corner of lower cover, manuscript paper label on spine.

First edition of Werner’s last major work.

Building on his theory of the origins of the earth’s crust, Werner proposed a theory of the origin of ore deposits. While his proposals have since been disproven, his work “helped to make the study of vein formation an integral part of historical geology” (Norman). 

REFERENCES

Hoover 878; Norman 2206

PROVENANCE

Bibliothek Schloss Liblin (inkstamp on front free endpaper) — Joseph A. Freilich (booklabel; Sotheby’s New York, lot 552, 10 January 2001)