Schuh’s Annotated Bio-Bibliography

DAUBENTON, Louis-Jean-Marie.

(1716 – 1800)

(Born: Montbard, Côte d'Or, France, 29 May 1716; Died: Paris, France, 1 January 1800) French physician, anatomist & mineralogist.

Daubenton was sent to Paris to study theology, but he preferred medicine. After receiving his M.D. in 1741, he intended to return to his birth city to open a practice; however, Buffon, a school mate from his hometown, engaged Daubenton to assist him at the Jardin du Roi in Paris and his projected scientific works. In 1745, he was appointed curator and demonstrator at the cabinet of natural history. In 1778, he was appointed to a chair in natural history at the College de France. For the fifty years he was in charge of the cabinet of natural history, he made a great many improvements. When the Jardin du Roi was converted to a school in 1794, Daubenton was appointed professor of mineralogy.

Biographical references: ABF: I 281, 300-329; II 190, 399. • Barr, Index to Biographical Fragments, 1973: 63. • Catalogue of Portraits of Naturalists: 341 [4 portraits listed]. • DBF: 10, 243-4. • Drugulin, Sechstausend Portraits, 1863: no. 1226-8. • DSB: 15, 111-4 [by C. Limoges; other refs.]. • Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition. • ISIS, 1913-65: 1, 320. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 105. • Nouvelle Biographie Générale (Hoefer): 13, cols. 162-6. • NY Academy Portrait Catalog: 2 [4 portraits listed]. • Poggendorff: 1, col. 525. • Roule, L., Daubenton et l'exploitation de la nature. Paris, Flammarion, 1925. [1]-246 p. [Published as: L'Histoire de la nature vivante d'après des grands naturalistes Français, no. 2.]. • Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 2, 851-2 & Suppl. 1 (1986), 1, 377. • Thomas, Dictionary of Biography, 1884: 724. • WBI. • Wellcome Catalog (History): 15, 50 [6 refs.].

Tableau, 1784

8°: A-D⁸ E⁴; 36l.; [1]-36l., printed on recto side only. Colophon, leaf 35, reads: "A Paris, | Chez Demonville, Imprimeur de l'Académie Françoise, | rue Christine; Pierres, Imprimeur du Roi, rue Saint | Jacques; Debure l'aîné; Didot le Jeune; Gogué & | Née de la Rochelle, quai des Augustins. | [rule] | M. DCC. LXXXIV. | Sous les Priviléges de l'Académie Royale des Sciences & du | Collége Royal de France." Page size: 198 x 122 mm.

Contents: [l. 1/=A1], Title page, verso blank.; l. 2-l. 34/A2r-E2r, Text.; l. 35-l. 36/E3r-E4r, Colophon and "Avertissement."

Rare. As we learn from the `Avertissement', these tables were exhibited in manuscript form during Daubenton's lectures in 1779 and were printed on rectos only so that they could be mounted on canvas. They were used to clarify Daubenton's classification system of minerals during his lectures at the Jardin du Roi. It is from these tables that one learns Daubenton divided the mineral kingdom into four orders: (1) stones, including precious and semiprecious, (2) fossils, (3) combustible substances, and (4) metallic substances. Classes of species within each order are derived from the physical and chemical properties of the minerals. As an appendix to this system, he included a list of volcanic products.

These tables were updated and issued through seven editions. See their descriptions below.

Bibliographical references: Beekman, Systematische Mineralogie, 1906: p. 57-9. • BL [B.408.(1.)]. • CBN [S.20447]. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 69. • DSB: 15, 113. • Duveen, Bibliotheca Alchemica et Chemica, 1965: p. 158. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 149. • Hoover Collection: nos. 250 & 251. • LKG: XII 103. • NUC: 133, 523 [ND 0054034]. • Observations sur la Physique, sur l'Histoire Naturelle et sur les Arts: 26 (1785), 68-70 [review].

2. French, 1788 [2nd edition].
Tableau Méthodique des Minéraux, suivant leurs Différentes Natures, et avec des caractères distinctifs, apparens ou faciles à reconnoître ... Paris, Pierres, 1788.

8°: A-D⁸ E⁴; 36l.; [1]-36l. Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: CBN [S.20448].

3. French, 1792 [3rd edition].
Tableau Méthodique des Minéraux, suivant leurs Différentes Natures, et avec des caractères distinctifs, apparens ou faciles à reconnoître ... 3. Édition. [Paris, de l'Imprimerie de du Pont, 1792].

8°: A-F⁸; 42l. Printed on recto side only. Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: BL [F.R.451.(24.)]. • LKG: XII 103.

4. French, 1793/4 [4th edition].
Tableau Méthodique des Minéraux suivant leurs Différentes Natures et avec des Caractères Distinctifs, apparens ou Faciles à Reconnaitre par Louis Jean Marie Daubenton. 4. Édition. Paris, An II [i.e., 1793/1794].

8°: A-F⁸; 42l. Printed on recto side only. Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: CBN [S.20449].

8°: π² A-F⁸ G⁴; 54l.; [2], [1]-52l. Note: Leaves A1-G4 are printed on the recto side only.

Contents: [l. 1rv/π1], Title page, verso blank.; [l. 2rv/π2], "Avertissement."; [1]-50/A1r-G2r, "Tableau Méthodique des Minéraux ..."; 51-52/G3r-G4r, "Minéraux dont on ne Connoît pas Assez la Natur pour les Classer."

Rare. This edition added mineral names based upon the new chemical nomenclature. Four orders divide the minerals into classes, and under each of these the species are divided by physical and chemical properties.

Bibliographical references: CBN [S.20548]. • Cole, Chemical Literature, 1988: no. 337.

6. French, 1798-9 [6th edition].
Tableau Méthodique des Minéraux, suivant leurs Différentes Natures, et avec des caractères distinctifs, apparens ou faciles à reconnoître. 6. Édition. Paris, Huzard, An VII [1798/99].

8°: vii p., 58l. Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: LKG: XII 103. • NUC: As an appendix to this system, he included a listing of 133, 523 [ND 0054035]. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 294.

8°: xx p., 81 (i.e., 79)l. Leaves 57-58 omitted; leaves 1-56 printed on recto side only.

Rare. The seventh expanded and last editon of Daubenton's popular tables of mineralogy.

Bibliographical references: BL [T.961.(8.)]. • LKG: XII 103. • NUC [ND 0054036].