[Werner, Abraham Gottlob] — Thomas Weaver, trans. | First edition in English of the author's first book

[Werner, Abraham Gottlob] — Thomas Weaver, trans.

A Treatise on the External Characters of Fossils, translated from the German … by Thomas Weaver. Dublin: Printed for M.N. Mahon, 1805

8vo (235 x 146 mm, uncut). Half-title, two folding engraved plates; light marginal dampstaining to a few leaves, faint and scattered spotting, plates offset. Original paper-backed blue boards, printed paper label on spine, deckled edges; staining and soiling, wear to spine with chipping at foot, vertical splits to spine, rubbing to extremities. 

First edition in English of the author’s first book.

The first English translation of Werner’s Von den äusserlichen Kennzeichen der Fossilien, originally published in 1774. Translator Thomas Weaver attended Freiberg and studied mineralogy and geology under Werner himself from 1790 to 1794. 

Ownership inscription of Mary Lucy Talbot (née Fox-Strangways, later Cole), daughter of the 2nd Earl of Ilchester. Mary was the aunt of William Henry Fox Talbot, the pioneer of photography responsible for the salted paper and calotype processes. Mary was apparently a strong supporter of her nephew’s scientific pursuits: in 1839, just a few weeks after Talbot invented the “photogenic drawing,” Mary wrote him a letter praising his discovery. “I am glad you shewed me the little drawings when I was at Lacock because I comprehend all the descriptions much better than I otherwise should have done,” she wrote. “I am glad M Daguer roused you to life—you have too much Strangways blood in you to determine anything till the last moment—I see it in other branches of the family to say nothing of personal observation on myself & daily lament the consequent loss of time & opportunity—every one seems struck with the marvellous of your discovery” (The Correspondence of William Henry Fox Talbot).

REFERENCES

Hoover 880; The Correspondence of William Henry Fox Talbot, 9 February 1839

PROVENANCE

Mary Lucy Talbot (signature to half-title; bill of sale for silks tipped in, dated 2 September 1815)