GOLITSYN (GALLITZIN), Dmitrii Aleksyevich.
(1738 – 1803)
Golitsyn (French: Gallitzin) was appointed Russian ambassador at Paris in 1763 and later in 1773 at the Hague. He retired to Braunschweig. Golitsyn was a member of many different learned societies and author of a number of scientific publications, especially in the field of mineralogy. He bequeathed his mineral collection (30,000 specimens) and library to the Jena Mineralogical Society, which was subsequently disbanded. The collection has since been dispersed into the general collection of the University of Jena.
Biographical references: Barr, Index to Biographical Fragments, 1973: 100. • Nouvelle Biographie Générale (Hoefer): 16, 342. • Poggendorff: 1, cols. 836-7. • Wilson, W.E., "Dmitrii Alekseevich Golitsyn (1734-1803), his life and works", Matrix, 2, (1991), 49-55. • Wilson, History of Mineral Collecting, 1994: 128 & 173.
1. French, 1792 [First edition].
Traité | ou | Description | Abrégée Et Méthodique | Des Minéraux. | Présenté à l'Academie Impériale & Royale des Sciences | & Belles - Lettres de Bruxelles, qui l'a jugé digne | de faire partie de ses propres Mémoires & de leur | servir de Suite. | Par le Prince D. De Gallitzin, | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornate rule] | A Maestricht, | Chez J.P. Roux & Compagnie, Imprimeurs-Libraires, associés. | [rule] | 1792.
4°: π2 A-Z4 Aa-Gg4 Hh2; 124l.; [4], [1]-244 p. Page size: 257 x 200 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Errata."; [1]-233, Text.; [234], Blank.; [235]-244, "Arrangement Méthodique | Des Mineraux."
Very scarce. In this methodical arrangement of mineralogy, the minerals are arranged into a natural history structure based on Orders, Classes, Families and Species. In the introduction, the author notes the great prevalence of quartz around the globe. It is found in every environment from mountain tops to the sands of the oceans. He then concludes that it would be appropriate to create a systematic classification of minerals based on the relative proportions of various materials found within the earth. Thus, the most common material, quartz, will head the system, with other substances found in lesser amounts listed below. Here Golitsyn utilizes the eight Orders of (1) Quartz, (2) Native metals, (3) Calcium minerals, including gypsum, calcite, marble, stalactites, etc., (4) Products of vegetables and animals, (5) Acids, (6) Mixtures, including zeolites, lapis-lazuli, fluorite, concretions, etc., (7) Combinations of metals and semi-metals, including pyrite, argentite, cuprite, oxides of lead, copper, bismuth, nickel, manganese, and (8) Products of volcanoes. Synonyms to mineral names are provided, and footnotes cite authorities for text comments.
Bibliographical references: Beekman, Systematische Mineralogie, 1906: 94-6. • Hoover Collection: no. 373. • LKG: XII 132. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 470. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 2294 [not seen].
2. French, 1794 [2nd edition].
Traité ou description abrégée et méthodique des mineraux présenté a l'Académie Impériale & Royale des Sciences & Belles-Lettres de Bruxelles, qui l'a jugé digne de faire partie de ses propres mémoires & de leur servir de suite par le Prince D. de Gallitzin ... Neuwied sur le Rhin, Chez la Société Typographique, 1794.
4°: A-Ff4 Gg-Ii2; ??l.; vi, [7]-245 [i.e. 241], [3] p. Page 139 incorrectly numbered 913 and page 241 numbered 245. Errata: p. [242]. Very scarce.
3. French, 1796 [3rd edition].
Traité | De | Mineralogie: | Ou, | Description Abregée et Methodique | Des Mineraux: | Presenté à l'Academie Imperiale et Royale des | Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Bruxelles, qui l'avoit jugé | digne de faire partie de ses propes | Memoires; | par | le Prince Dimitri de Gallitzin | [...4 lines of titles and memberships...] | [tapered rule] | Nouvelle Edition, | Revue, corrigée et considerablement augmentée par l'Auteur méme. | [rule] | Helmstadt | chez C.G. Fleckeisen, Imprimeur-Libraire. | 1796.
4°: *3 A-Z4 Aa-Zz4 Aaa4 Bbb3; 194l.; [6], [1]-380, [2] p. Page size: 202 x 152 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [4 pgs], Dedication to the Marquise de Nadaillac, signed Dimitri P. de Gallitzin.; [1]-6, "Introduction."; [7]-368, Text.; [369]-380, "Tables des Matieres contenues dans ce Volume."; [1 pg], Errata.; [1 pg], Blank.
Scarce. Here Golitsyn retains the classification system proposed in the first edition, while attempting to justify its merits through additional examples and added species.
Bibliographical references: LKG: XII 132. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 2294 [not seen].
4. French, 1801 [First edition].
Recueil | de Noms par Ordre alphabetique | appropriés en | Mineralogie | aux Terres et Pierres, aux Métaux et Demi-Métaux, | et aux Bitumes; avec un précis de leur | Histoire - Naturelle, | et leurs Synonimies en Allemand: | suivi d'un | Tableau Lithologique | tracé d'après les analyses Chimiques. | [ornate rule] | Par | le Prince Dimitri de Gallitzin | [...7 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornate rule] | [...3 lines of quotation, signed Haüy...] | [ornate rule] | Brunsvik | de l'Imprimerie de la maison des Orphelins, | 1801.
4°: *4 A-Qq4 Rr5; 165l.; [i]-viii, [1]-320, [2] p. Page size: 194 x 162 mm.
Rare. A large, comprehensive mineralogical dictionary, that is encyclopedic in nature. Its rarity may be a result of a stopped production, with the appearance of Haüy's Traité de Minéralogie and its reform of nomenclature being the cause. It is clear from the entries that Golitsyn was a proficient mineralogist with a keen instinct for including the best information. The species and varities are named in French, with synonms in German and other common names, then under each entry details on identification and physical properties, citing other authorities.
Bibliographical references: Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 71. • LKG: VIII 12. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 140. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 2296.
5. French, 1802 [2nd edition].
Recueil | de Noms par Ordre alphabetique | Appropriés En | Mineralogie | aux Terres et Pierres, aux Métaux et Demi Métaux | et aux Bitumes; avec un précis de leur | Histoire-Naturelle | et leurs Synonymes en Allemand, | Latin et Anglois, | suivi d'un | Tableau Lithologique | tracé d'aprés les analyses chimiques. | [ornate rule] | Nouveau éditione corrigée et augmentée par la Nomenclature relative | aux mêmes objects de Mr. Haüy. | [ornate rule] | Par | le Prince Dimitri de Gullitzin | [...6 lines of titles and memberships...] | [rule] | [...2 lines of quotation, signed Haüy...] | [tapered rule] | Brunsvik | de l'Imprimerie de la maison des Orphelins, | 1802.
2°: π2 A-B2 1-792; 164l.; [4], I-VIII, 1-316 p. Page size: 290 x 185 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [1 pg], Dedication to Mr Brückmann.; [1 pg], Blank.; I-VII, Introduction.; VIII, "Errata."; 1-296, Text.; 297-313, "Tableau Lithologique."; 314-316, "Conclusion."
Very scarce. An alphabetical classification of minerals, metals, earths, stones with their different descriptions, accompanied by extensive descriptions and references to the literature on the subject. The appearance of Haüy's Traité de Minéralogie (1st ed., Paris, 1801), in which he revised the nomenclature of mineralogy, caused Golitsyn to publish this corrected and enlarged second edition. The introduction discusses the principles of René Just Haüy's mineralogical nomenclature. The text then presents an alphabetical list of mineralogical terms that provides alternate names from other authors and a short descriptive commentary of the subject. Histories of some mineral species are also provided. At the conclusion of the alphabetical list is a table of lithology that compares the relative composition of earths, silica, alumina, calce, magnesium, baryte, strontian and zirkonium. A key at the end provides some early chemical formulas of rocks and a few pages of conclusions.
Bibliographical references: LKG: VIII 12. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 470.
6. French, 1801.
Description | Abrégée Et Méthodique | Des Minéraux. | Par le Prince D. de Gallitzin, | [...3 lines of titles and memberships...] | [tapered rule] | A Paris, | Chez Ant. Aug. Renourad, Libraire, rue | S.-André-des-Arcs, n°. 42. | An IX-1801.
4°: π2 A2-A4 B-Ff4 Gg-Ii2; 125l.; [4], [iii]-vi, [7]-245, [3] p. Pages i-ii absent, perhaps cancelled. Page size: 225 x 180 mm.
Very scarce. A general mineralogy, largely descriptive, describing and implementing the author's system of classification. In the introduction, Golitsyn explains that he classifies minerals into 8 orders or "genres": (1) quartzeux, (2) métaux et demi-métaux natifs, (3) matieres calcaires, (4) produits végétaux & des animaux, (5) acids & les sels, (6) matieres mixtes, (7) métaux et demi-métaux mineralises and (8) ouvrages & les produits des feux souterrains.
Bibliographical references: Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 2295.
7. French, 1797.
Lettre a monsieur le conseiller et professeur de Crell ou Observations sur la Catalogue Methodique et Raisonné de la Collection de Fossiles de M. E. de Raab, par M. de Born ... par la Prince D. de Gallitzin. Brunsvica, 1797.
4°: 62 p. Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: LKG: XIII 284 7 XV 26b.
8. French, 1799.
Seconde lettre à Monsieur de Crell, ou Réflexions sur la Minéralogie Moderne, par le Prince D. de Gallitzin. Brunswick, 1799.
4°: 51 p. Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: LKG: XV 27c.
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