BOURNON, Jacques-Louis.
(1751 – 1825)
Bournon was born into a noble family. He turned his attention to the natural history studies particularly mineralogy. However, he lost his first mineral collection when he fled to England during the French Revolution, but he built a second collection there, which was later sold to the French King Louis XVIII with Bournon becoming the Director. This second collection consisted of 22,881 specimens, nearly half were single crystals. In 1825, the collection was divided between the College de France and the Jardine des Plantes (National Museum of Natural History).
Biographical references: ABF: I 143, 218-221; II 92, 77. • Cleevely, World Palæontological Collections, 1983: 62. • DBF: 6, cols. 1524-6 [by T. de Morembert]. • DSB: 2, 355 [by J.G. Burke]. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 51. • Poggendorff: 1, cols. 261-2. • Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 2, 594. • Thomas, Dictionary of Biography, 1884: 417. • WBI. • Wilson, History of Mineral Collecting, 1994: 56-7 & 162.
1. French, 1785 [First edition].
Essai | Sur | La Lithologie | Des Environs | De | Saint-Etienne-En-Forez, | Et Sur L'Origine De Ses Charbons De Pierre. | Avec des Observations sur les Silex, Pétro- | silex, Jaspes et Granits. | Par M. de Bournon, Lieutenans de MM. | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornament] | [tapered rule] | 1785.
8°: [i]-xviii, [1]-104 p.
Rare. This monograph discusses petrology and the formations of coal found in the Saint-Etienne region of France.
Reissue, 1787: The text was apparently reissued with a Lyon imprint in 1787.
Bibliographical references: BL [987.i.16.]. • LKG: XIV 381.
2. French, 1808 [First edition, issue A].
Traite | De | Minéralogie. | Premiere Partie. | Renfermant | L'Introduction À La Minéralogie En Générale, | La Théorie De La Cristallistion, | L'Étude De La Chaux Carbonatée Proprement Dite, Et De L'Arragonite, | Avec Application Du Calcul Cristallographie À La Détermination Des Formes | Cristallines De Ces Deux Substances. | [tapered rule] | Par M. Le Comte De Bournon, | [...4 lines of titles and memberships...] | [double rule] | 1re Vol. | [double rule] | Londres: | Chez William Phillips, George Yard, Lombard Street. | 1808. | [short rule] | De L'Imprimerie De William Phillips.
3 vols. [Vol 1] π4 a-f4 A-Z4 2A-2U4 2X3; 203l.; [8], [i]-xlviii, [1]-349, [1] p.; [Vol 2] π4 A-Z4 2A-2Z4 3A-3E4 3F2; 210l.; [8], [1]-411, [1] p.; [Vol 3] π1 A-B4 C2 a-d2 e1 [plates]; 19l.; [2], [1]-19, [1], [16] p., 72 plates mostly of crystal drawings. Page size: 286 x 216 mm.
Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], Dedication to Czar Alexandre I.; [3 pgs], "Table | Des Matières contenues dans le Premier Volume."; [1 pg], Errata.; [i]-xlviii, "Discours Préliminaire."; [1]-349, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.
[Vol 2] [2 pg], Title page, verso blank.; [4 pgs], "Table | Des Matières contenues dans le Second Volume."; [1 pg], Errata.; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-411, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.;
[Vol 3] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [1]-19, "Observations | Sur Les Planches qui Renferment La Série Des Cris- | taux De Chaux Carbonatée, Et Sur La Manière | De Faire Usage Du Tableau Des Modifications Du | Cristal Primitif De Cette Substance, Placé à Leur | Tête."; [1 pg], Blank.; [16 pgs], "Tableau Des Modifications Du Cristal Primitif De La Chaux | Carbonatée, Ainsi Que De Leurs Angles De Détermination."; [At end], 72 plates, mostly of crystal drawings.
Very scarce. A three volume treatise concerning the properties and relationships of calcite and its structural isomorph, aragonite. To determine the position de Bournon's work holds in the history of mineralogy, attention must first be focused on the last quarter of the eighteenth century. During this time, a controversy began concerning the relationship between the minerals calcite and aragonite. Although quanatative analysis proved them to be chemically identical, examination of their physical properties showed aragonite to be harder, heavier and to possess a different crystal form. Using these criteria Abraham Gottlob Werner named and classified aragonite as a separate entity from calcite. In 1801, the Traite de Mineralogie by Rene Just Haüy also listed aragonite as a separate species, although the French mineralogist admitted more research was needed. This statement produced a flurry of investigations and theories to resolve the aragonite-calcite dilemma.
The present work, de Bournon's most important mineralogical contribution, was written to support Haüy's position that calcite and aragonite were separate mineral species, and that the final determination of whether a mineral is a distinct species relies on physical characteristics, not chemical properties. The seventy-two plates show various crystals of calcite and aragonite. Based on a copy of this work that had loosely laid in the two leaves of the Traité Complet de la Chaux Carbonatée et de l'Arragonite the Traité de Minéralogie is the first issue.
Bibliographical references: Burke, Origins of the Science of Crystals, 1966: 127-28. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 67. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 150. • Smith, 100 Years of the Mineral Collection, 1969: 239-40.
3. French, 1808 [First edition, issue B].
Traité Complet | De La | Chaux Carbonatée | Et De | L'Arragonite, | Auquel On A Joint | Une Introduction À La Minéralogie En Général, | Une Théorie De La Cristallisation, Et Son Application, | Ainsi Qui Celle Du Calcul, À La Détermination Des Formes Cristallines De Ces Deux | Substances. | [tapered rule] | Par M. Le Comte De Bournon, | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | [double rule] | 1re Vol. | [double rule] | Londres: | Chez William Phillips, George Yard, Lombard Street. | 1808. | [short rule] | De L'Imprimerie De William Phillips.
3 vols. [Vol 1] π4 a-f4 A-Z4 2A-2U4 2X3; 203l.; [8], [i]-xlviii, [1]-349, [1] p.; [Vol 2] π4 A-Z4 2A-2Z4 3A-3E4 3F2; 210l.; [8], [1]-411, [1] p.; [Vol 3] π1 A-B4 C2 a-d2 e1 [plates]; 19l.; [2], [1]-19, [1], [16] p., 72 plates mostly of crystal drawings. Page size: 284 x 214 mm.
Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [1 pg], "Avertissement."; [1 pg], Blank.; [3 pgs], "Table | Des Matières contenues dans le Premier Volume."; [1 pg], Errata.; [1 pg], Blank.; [i]-xlviii, "Discours Préliminaire."; [1]-349, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.
[Vol 2] [2 pg], Title page, verso blank.; [3 pgs], "Table | Des Matières contenues dans le Second Volume."; [1 pg], Errata.; [1]-411, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.;
[Vol 3] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [1]-19, "Observations | Sur Les Planches qui Renferment La Série Des Cris- | taux De Chaux Carbonatée, Et Sur La Manière | De Faire Usage Du Tableau Des Modifications Du | Cristal Primitif De Cette Substance, Placé à Leur | Tête."; [1 pg], Blank.; [16 pgs], "Tableau Des Modifications Du Cristal Primitif De La Chaux | Carbonatée, Ainsi Que De Leurs Angles De Détermination."; [At end], 72 plates, mostly of crystal drawings.
Very scarce. Identical in all respects to the previous issue, except for the different title pages of each volume.
Bibliographical references: BL. • Burke, Origins of the Science of Crystals, 1966: 127-28. • Smith, 100 Years of the Mineral Collection, 1969: 239-40.
4. French, 1813 [Collection catalog].
Catalogue | De La | Collection Minéralogique | Du | Comte De Bournon, | [...5 lines of titles and memberships...] | Faites par lui-même. | Et Dans Lequel Sont Placés | Plusieurs Observations Et Faints Intéressants | Qui jusqu'ici n'avoient pas été décrits, &c. | Ainsi Qu'une | Résponse Au Mémoire | De | M. L'Abbé Haüy, | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | [double rule] | Avec Un Volume De Planches. | [double rule] | A Londres: | De l'imprimerie de R. Juigné, 17, Margaret Street, Cavendish Square. | Se vend chez L. Deconchy, 100, New Bond Street. | [short rule] | 1813.
Planches | Du | Catalogue De La Collection Minéralogique | Du | Comte De Bournon. | [double rule] | A Londres, | De l'Imprimerie de R. Juigné, 17, Margaret Street, Cavendish Square. | Se Vend Chez L. Deconchy, 100, New Bond-Street. | [rule] | 1813.
2 parts. [Text] 8°: π2 a-b2 c-h8 B-Nn8 O2 (h8 blank); 341l.; [2], [i]-cxiv, [2], [1]-563, [1] p.; [Atlas] Oblong 4°: [2] p., 21 engraved plates (xl drawings; signed Count de Bournon del J. Simpkins). Page size: (Text) 220 x 146 mm.; (Atlas) 280 x 216 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [1 pg], "La Collection Minéralogique du Comte | de Bournon ..."; [1 pg], Blank.; [i]-cxiv, "Discours Préliminaire."; [2 pgs], Blanks.; [1]-468, Text.; [469], "Observations | Sur | Le Mémoire De M. L'Abbé Haüy, | Concernant | La Simplicité de Lois auxquelles est soumise la | Structure des Cristaux, | Inséré dans le 183e Numéro du Journal des Mines."; [470], Blank.; [471]-548, Text of Memoire.; [549]-563, "Table | Des Matières."; [1 pg], Blank.
Rare. Catalog of the large and important mineral collection created by Bournon. The "Discours Préliminaire" provides a history of the collection's formation and observations about the science of mineralogy. There is also an extensive commentary on Bournon's relationship with the British Museum and its trustees. The text contains a detailed description of the collection's specimens, with information on the minerals chemical and physical properties. Throughout Bournon references Haüy and other mineralogists. A separate section deals with Haüy's theories on crystal structure.
Bibliographical references: BL [973.c.20.]. • Burke, Origins of the Science of Crystals, 1966: 127-28. • Smith, 100 Years of the Mineral Collection, 1969: 239-40.
5. French, 1817 [Collection catalog].
Catalogue | De | La Collection | Minéralogique Particulière | Du Roi, | Appartenant À L'Auteur De Ce Même Catalogue, | lorsque Sa Majesté en a fait l'acquistition. | Par M. le Comte De Bournon, | [...9 lines of titles and memberships, split into 2 sections...] | [rule] | Paris, | De L'Imprimerie d'Abel Lanoe. | [short rule] | 1817.
4°: [Text] 4°: π10 B-Hh8; 290l.; [4], [i]-xv, [1], [1]-557, [3] p. [Atlas] Oblong 4°: 21 engraved plates (identical to the 1813 edition). Page size: 220 x 148 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Half title page, "Catalogue," verso blank.; [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [i]-xv, "Préface."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-468, Text.; [469]-557, "Table | Des Matières."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1 pg], "Errata."; [1 pg], Blank.; [At end], 21 folding engraved plates.
Rare. This is a modified reissue of the Catalogue de la Collection Minéralogique (London, 1813). The `Discours Préliminaire' and the commentary on Haüy's Memoire are omitted. The former is now replaced with a Préface describing the acquisition of the collection by the French state, but the text describing the specimens is unchanged. The plates are from the 1813 issue.
Bibliographical references: Burke, Origins of the Science of Crystals, 1966: 127-8. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 67. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 463. • Smith, 100 Years of the Mineral Collection, 1969: 239-40.
French editions
6. French, 1815 [First edition].
Catalogue | Raisonné | Des | Diamants | Dans Le Cabinet | De | Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. | Par | M. Le Comte De Bournon. | [double rule] | Avec Planches. | [double rule] | A Londres: | Chez J. Murray, Albemarle Street. | De L'Imprimerie De Haines Et Turner, Margaret Street, | Cavendish Square. | 1815.
4°: π3 b4 c5 B-E4 χ1; 28l.; [i]-xxi, [1], [1]-33, [1] p., 4 plates. Folding table at page xvii. Page size: 280 x 204 mm. Very scarce.
Contents: [2 pgs], Half title page, "Catalogue Raisonné | Dell Diamants," verso blank.; [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii]-iv, "Avis."-signed A.H., April 1815.; [v]-xvi, "Lettre | De | M. Le Comte De Bournon | A | Sir Abraham Hume, | Sur Les Loix De Cristallisation Du Diamant; | Accompagné De | Deux Tableaux, | Necessaires A Eclaircir Les Descriptions Contenues Dans Ce Catalogue."-signed Comte De Bournon, 1 August 1815.; [Folding table: "Tableau De Formes Cristallines Du Diamant."].; xvii, `Tableau Des Numeros Et Des Figures."; [xviii], Blank.; xix-xxi, "Observations."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-33, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.; [At end], 4 plates.
Bibliographical references: BL. • Burke, Origins of the Science of Crystals, 1966: 127-28. • DSB: 2, 355 [by J.G. Burke]. • Smith, 100 Years of the Mineral Collection, 1969: 239-40.
7. French, 1815 [2nd edition].
Catalogue | Raisonné | Des | Diamants | Dans Le Cabinet | De | Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. | Par | M. Le Comte De Bournon. | [double rule] | Avec Planches. | [double rule] | A Londres: | Chez J. Murray, Albemarle Street. | De L'Imprimerie De Haines Et Turner, Margaret Street, | Cavendish Square. | 1815.
4°: π3 b4 c5 B-E4 F3; 30l.; [i]-xxi, [1], [1]-37, [1] p., 5 plates. Folding table at page xvii. Page size: 280 x 204 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Half title page, "Catalogue Raisonné | Dell Diamants," verso blank.; [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii]-iv, "Avis."-signed A.H., April 1815.; [v]-xvi, "Lettre | De | M. Le Comte De Bournon | A | Sir Abraham Hume, | Sur Les Loix De Cristallisation Du Diamant; | Accompagné De | Deux Tableaux, | Necessaires A Eclaircir Les Descriptions Contenues Dans Ce Catalogue."-signed Comte De Bournon, 1 August 1815.; [Folding table: "Tableau De Formes Cristallines Du Diamant."].; xvii, `Tableau Des Numeros Et Des Figures."; [xviii], Blank.; xix-xxi, "Observations."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-37, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.; [At end], 5 plates.
Very rare. This is the second French edition containing an extra 4 pages of text and an additional plate showing crystal drawings.
Bibliographical references: BL.
English editions
8. English, 1815 [First edition].
A | Descriptive Catalogue | Of | Diamonds | In The Cabinet | Of | Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. M.P. | By | The Count de Bournon. | [double rule] | With Plates | [double rule] | Translated From The French. | London: | Printed For J. Murray, Albemarle Street, | By Haines and Turner, | Margaret Street, | Cavendish Square. | 1815.
4°: [a]6 b6 B-D4 E5; 29l.; [i]-xix (i.e. xxi), [1], [2], [1]-33, [1] p., one folding table, 4 plates of diamond crystals. Page xxi misnumbered xix. Page size: 292 x 225 mm.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii]-iv, "Advertisement."-signed "A.H." [Abraham Hume], May 1815.; [v], "Letter | From | The Count de Bournon | To | Sir Abraham Hume, | On The Crystallization Of The Diamond | Accompanied By | Two Tables, | Necessary To Elucidate The Descriptions Contained In The catalogue."; [vi], "The engraving of the Plates..."; [vii]-xvi, "Letter, &c."; xvii, "Table Of The Numbers And Figures | Under Which Are | The Planes Of The Different Modifications."; [xviii], Blank.; xix-xix (i.e. xxi), "Observations."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1 pg], "Descriptive Catalogue of Diamonds."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-33, "Catalogue."; [1 pg], Colphon.
Plates: Bound at the end is one folding table, titled, "Table Of The Crystalline Forms Of The Diamond." In addition, there are 4 plates of diamond crystals showing 79 figures.
Very scarce. Translation by Sir Abraham Hume [see note below] of Catalogue Raisonné des Diamants (London, 1815). Hume also wrote the short introduction.
Abraham Hume. (Born: 1749; Died: 1838) English gentleman. Second and last baronet. Hume was elected a member of Parliment from Petersfield, 1774 to 1780. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1775, and he was vice-president of the geological society from 1809 to 1813. He was a collector of minerals, precious stones and old masters. Bournon cataloged his minerals, which were acquired by the Sedgewick Museum in Cambridge in 1841.
Bibliographical references: BL. • Burke, Origins of the Science of Crystals, 1966: 127-8. • DSB: 2, 355 [by J.G. Burke]. • Smith, 100 Years of the Mineral Collection, 1969: 239-40. (Hume) Allibone, Dictionary of English Literature, 1859-71. • BBA: I 585, 204-214. • Catalogue of Portraits of Naturalists: 612 [1 portrait listed]. • DNB. • Poggendorff: 1, col. 1159. • Smith, Early Mineralogy in Great Britain, 1978. • WBI. • Wilson, History of Mineral Collecting, 1994: 176.
9. English, 1815 [2nd edition].
A | Descriptive Catalogue | Of | Diamonds | In The Cabinet | Of | Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. M.P. | By | The Count de Bournon. | [double rule] | With Plates | [double rule] | Translated From The French. | London: | Printed For J. Murray, Albemarle Street, | By Haines and Turner, | Margaret Street, | Cavendish Square. | 1815.
4°: [a]6 b6 B-D4 E4 F3; 31l.; [i]-xix (i.e. xxi), [1], [1]-37, [1] p., 5 plates. Page size: 296 x 228 mm.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii]-iv, "Advertisement."-signed "A.H." [Abraham Hume], May 1815.; [v], "Letter | From | The Count de Bournon | To | Sir Abraham Hume, | On The Crystallization Of The Diamond | Accompanied By | Two Tables, | Necessary To Elucidate The Descriptions Contained In The catalogue."; [vi], "The engraving of the Plates..."; [vii]-xvi, "Letter, &c."; xvii, "Table Of The Numbers And Figures | Under Which Are | The Planes Of The Different Modifications."; [xviii], Blank.; xix-xix (i.e. xxi), "Observations."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1 pg], "Descriptive Catalogue of Diamonds."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-37, "Catalogue."; [1 pg], Colphon.; [At end], 5 plates.
Very scarce. Translation by Sir Abraham Hume of Catalogue Raisonné des Diamants (London, 1815). Hume also wrote the short introduction.
Sinkankas (1994) #830 was to the compiler's research, the first bibliography that has called attention to this new edition. The number of specimens now described is 128 from 107, with the added plate showing various examples between numbers 108 to 128. Eventhough, no indication on the title page, this work should clearly be considered a second edition.
Bibliographical references: BL. • Burke, Origins of the Science of Crystals, 1966: 127-28. • DSB: 2, 355 [by J.G. Burke]. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 830.. • Smith, 100 Years of the Mineral Collection, 1969: 239-40.
10. French, 1824.
Description du Goniometre perfectionne de M. Adelmann. Paris, Hippolyte Tilliard, 1824.
8°: 16 p., one plate.
Rare. Bournon describes a goniometer invented by Adelmann, who was an asistant to him at he royal cabinet.
Bibliographical references: Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 78. • Poggendorff: 1, cols. 261-2.
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