Beschreibung:

RÉAUMUR, Réné-Antoine Ferchault de (1683-1757). L'art de convertir le fer forgé en acier, et l'art d'adoucir le fer fondu, ou de faire des ouvrages de fer fondu aussi finis que de fer forgé . Paris: P.A. Paulus-du-Mesnil for Michel Brunet, 1722. Large 4 o (290 x 215 mm). 17 folding engraved plates by Ph. Simonneau. (Some light marginal spotting and browning.) Contemporary French red morocco gilt, covers with triple fillet border, enclosing a centrally-placed gilt oval containing the arms of Henri-François d'Aguesseau [Olivier 594, fer 3], spine gilt in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second, the others with repeat decoration in gilt including the crossed ceremonial staves surrounded by scallop shells [see Oliver 594, fer 8], gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt edges (minor wear to extremities). Provenance : Henri-François d'Aguesseau (1668-1751, binding, contemporary inscription 'S.34. B B. Daguesseau N o 2744); A. & R. le conte Boudeville (early-20th century bookplate). A FINE LARGE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION: although this does not appear to be a separate large-paper issue, it is undoubtedly a de-luxe copy, beautifully bound in red morocco with both text and plates printed with wide margins. For comparison: the Norman copy measured 257 x 183mm. Reaumur's work on converting iron into steel is the first reliable treatise on ferrous metal metallurgy. He "revealed for the first time hitherto secret details of the process and also came very close to the correct explanation of the nature of steel, that it is iron combined with a small quantity of carbon" (Hoover). It also contains information on rendering cast iron ductile. Reaumur's scientific interests covered a great many subjects and he made contributions to various fields including industrial technology, natural history, biology and genetics. Hoover 677; Norman 1803; Singer, Technology III, pp. 28-29; Wolf II, p. 530.