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SAUSSURE, DE. - SENEBIER, JEAN: Mémoire historique sur la vie et les écrits de Horace Bénédict de Saussure, pour servir d'introduction à la lecture de ses ouvrages. Lu à la Société de physique et d'histoire naturelle de Genève, le 23 Prairial an VIII (1800).
Genève, (Luc Sestié for) J.J. Paschoud, IX (1801), in-8vo, 219 p., slight browning to a few leaves, entirely uncut, interims wrappers, rebacked, tear in upper hinge and spine, lower hinge starting. ¶ First edition of the first biography of de Saussure (1740-1793), written by his fellow citizen Senebier (1742-1809), a famous scientist in his own right and the translator of Spallanzani's scientific books into French and, beyond that, a historian and a librarian in his native town Geneva. This book is a complete survey of de Saussure's life and achievements, with of course special attention to the geological research carried out by him in the Alps, which takes the largest part of the book. De Saussure was one of the founders of modern alpinism and Senebier renders him due honor for that, with exhaustive descriptions of his expedition and of his discoveries during these. De Saussure was also an excellent botanist, who identified several new species, and an excellent physicist, inventor of the hygrometer. A less known facet of the activity of de Saussure is the interest he brought to the nascent aerostatics; he collaborated with Montgolfier, measuring i.a. the temperature reached by hot air in the balloons. He predicted also that balloons could find a military use. Für Schweizer Kunden kommen noch 2,4 % MWST hinzu. Our books are stored in our warehouse, not in the shop. Please notify beforehand, if you want to visit and see a specific book. Ward-Carozzi 2026; Margerie 2940, Oettinger II/1614 et Quérard IX/54 (adresse du titre porte: "Genève et Paris"); Perret 4012.
Offered for CHF 650.00 = appr. US$ 555.75 by: Harteveld Rare Books Ltd. - Book number: 38719