MACQUER, PETER JOSEPH.

Dictionnaire de Chymie, contenant la Théorie et la Pratique de cette Science, son Application á la Physique, à l'Histoire naturelle, à la Médiciné, & aux Arts dépendans de la Chymie. Seconde Edition, revue & considérablement augmentée. 4 vols.

Paris, Fr. Didot, 1778. 8vo. In four nice uniform contemporary sprinckled full calf bindings with five raised bands and richly gilt spines. Hinges with wear, otherwise a fine set. XXXVII, (3), 568 pp.; (4), 208, 207-302,305-655, (1) pp.; (4),520, (1) [errata] pp.; (4),333, (1), 335-336, (1), 336-776 pp. Complete with half titles in volume I-III, not called for in volume IV.

The genuine second edition - but fifth appearance - of Macquer's landmark work "which may be regarded as the first scientific work of its class." (Ferguson I:p.60).

"Although designiated as the second edition on each title page, this is the fifth appearance of the Dictionnaire in the French language. It is the genuine second edition as written by Marcquer, whose name now appears on the title and whose reputation had by this greatly increased. An important addition is the 168-page article on gas, a topic that was almost entirely new and had not been mentioned in the first edition. While the number of articles remains almost the same, the work, is nearly twice as long owing to the inclusion of an up-to date account of chemistry and much new material." (Neville, vol. 2, p. 113).

"By far the most important of Macquer's works: there had been technical dictionaries before but this was the first dictionary of theoretical and general chemistry; its success soon produced many imitators". (Duveen).

Order-nr.: 52782