Descrizione

Zürich, Heidegger, 1764. 8vo (18.9 x 11.6 cm). 318 pp. Contemporary marbled boards. Spine with gilt chains and two leather lables with gilt title. Edges speckled red. = Rare first German edition of this important monograph on gold and its uses, including its important role in alchemy. "Wilhelm" [= William] Lewis (1708-1781) was a British physician, chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society. "Two papers by him on platinum appeared in the Philosophical Transactions for 1754 and 1767. In 1767 the Society for the Improvement of Arts, Manufactures, &c., of which he was a founder, awarded him a gold medal for an essay upon 'potashes'." (Wikipedia). The Swiss chemist J. H. Ziegler (1738-1819) translated several works by Lewis into German. Old inscriptions and a stamp on the front free endpaper; title page somewhat stained and a weak, unobtrusive, stamp on verso, but unreadable. In very good condition. DSB 8, p. 297; Ferguson II, 30.