PALISSY (Bernard). Admirable discourses on the nature of wat - Lot 31

PALISSY (Bernard). Admirable discourses on the nature of waters and fountains, both natural and artificial, des métaux, des sels des pierres, des terres, du feu & des émaux le tout dressé par dialogues. A Paris, chez Martin le Jeune, 1580. in-8 (156 x 106 mm), (8) ff, 361 pp. and (23) pp. of table, vellum, author and title handwritten on spine (contemporary binding). ORIGINAL EDITION, extremely rare and precious, of this collection of eleven distinct scientific treatises on subjects as diverse as the nature of water and the use of marl to improve land. In addition to the merits of its style, it is the only source where one can find information on Palissy, his life and his work. An exemplary self-taught figure, Bernard Palissy (1510-1590) advocated observation and the virtues of the experimental method. Of all his treatises, the most remarkable is L'Art de Terre, an account of his great discovery and all the labor and pain it cost him. With admirable naiveté, he depicts the persecutions and anguish to which he condemned himself for sixteen years "to find the invention of making enamels". A very attractive copy, in its first binding and perfectly preserved; it belonged to Jean-François Félibien des Avaux, whose signature it bears at the top of the title, an architect like his father André Félibien and author of works on architecture (1658-1733). It is likely that this volume originally belonged to André Félibien, as a large bookplate engraved with his name and arms has been inserted in the blank on page 361. A few pencil notes and the signature F. Paulmier on the title, in 16th-century handwriting, and small wormholes in the margins. Brunet, supplement, VIII, 133. B.N.F., En Français dans le texte, no. 72; Neville, Historical chemical Library, 2006, p. 250; Duveen, Bibliotheca alchemica et chemica, p. 446: "A book of great importance in the history of chemistry and science generally. Extremely rare."