Author: PUGET, Louis de.
Title: Observations sur la structure des yeux de divers insectes, et sur la trompe des papillons, contenuës en deux lettres au R.P. Lamy, ... Lyon, Leonard Plaignard, 1706. 8vo. With 3 folding engraved plates with 16 figures (original-size and microscopic views), woodcut cipher-monogram (JC for Jean Caffin?) on title-page, woodcut head- and tailpieces, decorated initial letters, and cast fleurons. Contemporary French calf, richly gold-tooled spine.
Description: [8], 157, [3] pp.First and only edition of well-illustrated observations on the structure of insect (and crayfish) eyes and a butterfly proboscis by a pioneer of French microscopy. It begins with two letters written by Puget to the Benedictine scientist François Lamy (1626-1711) in 1704, followed by 59 pages explaining the figures in the plates in great detail. The figures include original-size and microscopic (about 300x) views of the eyes of a crayfish, dragonfly and butterfly, as well as a butterfly proboscis and its interior structure.Although Robert Hooke had published his microscopic views of insects and other things in his 1665 Micrographia, little progress was made in the improvement of the microscope until the introduction of achromatic lenses in the mid-18th century. Puget (1629-1709), like Leeuwenhoek in Holland, therefore had to compensate for the limitations of his equipment with a keen sense of observation, insight and natural curiosity, experimenting, for example with a candle flame and other images reflected in the compound eyes. Unlike Leeuwenhoek, he came from a wealthy family and was able to acquire microscopes and devote his leisure time to scientific studies, and he helped to establish the Lyon Académie des Sciences. The present work forms his most important contribution to science.With some contemporary manuscript corrections. In very good condition, with only an occasional minor spot in the text and a few faint marginal water stains, not approaching the text. The binding is skilfully rebacked, with the original back-strip laid down. A pioneering work of microscopy and entomology, especially interesting for the microscopic views of compound eyes.l Blake, p. 365; BMC NH, p. 1621; Cole Library 1190; Hagen, p. 54; Horn & Schenkling 17511; for Puget and Lamy: NBG XLI, col. 177 & XXIX, cols. 298-300.

Keywords: [5091845FC46C] NATURAL HISTORY|[5091845FC46C] NATURAL HISTORY -> [F937C2A81A8C] Insects & Spiders|[E51AD6E3D609] SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY|[E51AD6E3D609] SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY -> [398A2D337924] Instruments & Microscopy|