Werner, Abraham Gottlob | Mineral-System, first edition in book form, published posthumously

Werner, Abraham Gottlob

Mineral-System. Freiberg and Vienna: Craz, Gerlach, and Gerold, 1817

8vo (202 x 115 mm). Black letter type; light dampstaining, lightly foxed, remnants of original paper wrapper. Contemporary quarter sheep over mottled boards, gilt leather spine label, gilt detail at foot of spine, edges stained red; spine worn with portion of loss to head of spine, corners rubbed.

First edition in book form, published posthumously.

The Norman copy.

Earlier editions of Werner’s Mineral-System were published in 1789 in the Bergmannisches Journal and in 1816 in the Neues Bergmannisches Journal. The present version, prepared from Werner’s notes by his students J.C. Freiesleben, August Breithaupt, and A.W. Kohler, described 317 mineral species—of which Werner had personally discovered 8. 34 of the mineral names used in this work, including his own 8 names, are still in use today.

REFERENCES

Hoover 877; Norman 2207 (this copy)

PROVENANCE

Henryson (contemporary manuscript signature on title page) — Haskell F. Norman (bookplate to upper pastedown; Christie’s New York, 15 June 1998, lot 851, part)