BERTRAND, Élie.
(1713 – 1777)
From 1744, Bertrand was pastor of a church in Berne. He held memberships in the scientific academies of Stockholm, Berlin, Florence, and Lyon. He was a founder of the Economic Société in d'Yverdon, Switzerland.
Biographical references: ABF: I 96, 380-384. • Feller, Biographie Universelle, 1851. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 35. • Nouvelle Biographie Générale (Hoefer). • Poggendorff: 1, col. 170. • Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 2, 542. • WBI. • World Who's Who in Science: 167.
1. French, 1763 [Issue A].
[In red:] Dictionnaire | [in black:] Universel | Des | [in red:] Fossiles Propres, | [in black:] Et Des | [in red:] Fossiles Accidentels, | [in black:] Contenant Une Description | Des terres, des fables, des sels, des soufres, des bitu- | mes, des pierres simples & composées, communes & | prétieuses, transparentes & opaques, amorphes & | figurées, des minéraux, des métaux, des pétrifi- | cations du règne animal, & du règne végétal | &c. avec des recherches sur la formation | de ces fossiles, sur leur origine, | leurs usages &c. | [in red:] Par Mr. E. Betrand, | [in black, 5 lines of titles and memberships] | [in red:] Tome Premier [-Second]. | [in black, ornament] | [in red:] A La Haye, | [in black, the next three lines braced on the left-hand side by, "Chez {"] Pierregosse Junior, | Et | Daniel Pinet. | [in red:] M. DCC. LXIII.
2 vols., sometimes bound in one. [Vol 1] 8°: *2 A-Q8; 130l.; [4], 1-256 p. Title in red and black. [Vol 2 8°: π2 A-Q8; 130l.; [4], 1-256 p. Page size: 208 x 125 mm.
Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Half title page, "Dictionnaire | Oryctologique | Universel. | [double rule] | Tome Premier," verso blank.; [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [i]-iv, Dedication to King Frederic V, signed E. Bertrand.; [v]-xxxij, "Discours | Preliminaire."; 1-284, Text.
[Vol 2] [2 pgs], Half title page, "Dictionnaire | Oryctologique | Universel. | [double rule] | Tome Second," verso blank.; [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; 1-256, Text.
Scarce. An early comprehensive dictionary defining terms used in the 18th century study of oryctology, which by today's convention would include all of the earth sciences such as geology, mineralogy, crystallography, paleontology, and vulcanology. In the alphabetical list, various terms deal with earths, salts, sulfurs, bitumens, petroleum, simple and complex stones, common and precious gems, minerals, metals, petrifications of animals and plants, the latest theories on their formation, and their uses. In many instances a substantial definition is provided, which shows Bertrand's good knowledge of the subject. Volume one covers words beginning with the letters A to L, while volume 2 continues M to Z.
Another issue: La Haye, 1764.
Bibliographical references: Berlinische Sammlungen: 1, 238 & 9, 225. • BL [234.k.8.]. • BMC: 1, 155. • Cobres, Deliciæ Cobresianæ, 1782: 1, 18 ["Ein nützliches Buch."]. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 17. • Göttingische gelehrte Anzeigen: 1763, 1166. • LKG: VIII 3. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 111. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 193.
2. French, 1763.
Dictionnaire | Universel | Des | Fossiles Propres, | Et Des | Fossiles Accidentels | Contenant Une | Description Des Terres, | des Sables, des Sels, des Soufres, des Bitumes; des | Pierres simples & composées, communes & précieu- | ses, trasparentes & opaques, amorphes & figurées, | des minéraux, des métaux, des pétrifications du | regne animal, & du regne végétal & c. avec des | recherches sur la formation de ces Fossiles, sur leur | origine, leurs usages &c. | Par Mr. E. Bertrand, | [...5 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornament] | A Avignon, | Chez Louis Chambeau, Imprimeur-Libraire; | près les RR. PP. Jésuites. | [ornate rule] | M. DCC. LXIII.
8°: *8 C-Z8 Aa-Qq8 Rr7; 319l.; [i]-xxxij, [1]-606 p. Head- and tailpieces. Page size: 210 x 130 mm.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii-iv], Dedication to Frederic V, signed E. Bertrand.; [v]-xxxij, "Discours | Preliminaire."; [1]-606, Text.
Scarce. Pirated? text of the same work published in the same year at La Haye.
Bibliographical references: Berlinische Sammlungen: 1, 238 & 9, 225. • BL [1509/1746.]. • Göttingische gelehrte Anzeigen: 1763, 1166. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 143a.
3. French, 1766.
Recueil | De | Divers Traités | Sur | L'Histoire Naturelle | De La Terre | Et Des Fossiles. | Par M.E. Bertrand, ci-devant premier Pasteur de l'Eglise | [...6 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornament] | A Avignon, | Chez Louis Chambeau, Imprimeur-Libraire, | près les RR. PP. Jésuites. | [ornate rule] | M. DCC. LXVI.
8°: a4 A-Z4 2A-2Z4 3A-3Z4; 280l.; [8], [1]-552 p. Page size: 250 x 185 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Half title page, "Recueil | De | Divers Traités | Sur | L'Histoire Naturelle | De La Terre | Et Des Fossiles," verso blank.; [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], Dedication to King Stanislas Auguste of Poland.; [2 pgs], "Avertissement | Du Libraire."; [1]-541, Text.; [542]-552, "Table | Des Titres | Et Des | Principales Matieres | De Cet Ouvrage."
Very scarce. A reprint collection of six of Bertrand's earlier works including: Mémoire sur la structure intérieure de la terre - Essai sur les usages des montagnes - Mémoires historiques et physiques sur les tremblemens de terre - Essai d'une distribution methodique des fossiles - Essai de minérographie, et d'hydrographie du Canton de Berne - Lettre sur les inondations du Nil, et l'usage des montagnes de l'Abissinie - Lettre sur la diminution les mers, et l'origine de montagnes. An index at the end provides a listing of the titles of the works together with a breakdown of the important sections in each.
Perhaps the most important monograph contained in the collection is the "Essai de minérographie, et d'hydrographie du Canton de Berne." This is the first "Mineralography," which is a alphabetical listing of the Cantons throughout Switzerland, with details given of the minerals and therapeutic springs that may be found at each location. When this work was written, this was a quite new, and useful format for describing the mineral wealth of a geographical area.
Another issue: Identical issue, with the date of 1767 is also recorded.
Contents: I. Mémoires sur la structure intérieure de la Terre (in 3 parts, pp. 1-104). II. Essai sur les usages des montagnes (pp. 105-222). III. Mémoires historiques et physiques sur les tremblemens de terre (pp. 223-380). IV. Essai d'une distribution methodique des fossiles (pp. 381-434). V. Essai de minérographie, et d'hydrographie du canton de Berne (pp. 435-486). VI. Essai de minérographie du canton de Berne, systematiquement rangée (pp. 487-496). VII. Catalogue du Cabinet d'histoire naturelle de M. E. Bertrand (pp. 497-508). VIII. Letttre sur les inondations du Nil, et l'usage des montagnes de l'Abissinie (pp. 509-526). IX. Lettre sur la diminution des mers, et l'origine des montagnes (pp. 527-541). Table des matières (pp. 542-552).
Bibliographical references: Berlinische Sammlungen: 3, 636. • BMC: 1, 155. • Cobres, Deliciæ Cobresianæ, 1782: 2, 688 ["Bekannt."]. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 287. • Hoover Collection: no. 121. • LKG: VI 39. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 194.
4. French, 1752 [First edition].
Mémoires | Sur | La Structure Intérieure | De La Terre, | Par | M. Elie Bertrand. | [...4 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornament] | A Zuric, | [rule] | Chez Heidegguer Et Compagnie | MDCCLII.
8°: A-H8 K4; 76l.; [1]-152 p., 10 plates.
Contents: [1-2], Title page, verso 3 lines of text.; [3]-[6], Dedication.; 7-152, Text.; [At end], 10 plates.
Rare. Collection of four science reports of which the three first treat the mineralogical and geological structure of the earth's interior. The last is a letter on the features of oceans. The 10 plates at the end show one map and 9 diagrams.
Bibliographical references: LKG. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 191.
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