(Born: Prag, Czech., 4 September 1791; Died: Prag, Czech., 6 April 1849) Czech crystallographer.

Biographical references: DBA: I 980, 15-31; 980, 72-73. • Hamberger & Meusel, Gelehrte Teutschland, 1796-1834. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 345. • Poggendorff: 2, col. 521. • Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 3, 1921. • Svobody, Naučný Geologický Slovník, 1960: 2, p. 762. • WBI. • Wurzbach, Biographisches Lexikon Österreich, 1856-91.

Nerostopis čili Mineralogia, 1837

1. Czech, 1837.
Nerostopis | čili | Mineralogia. | [rule] | Rukowĕt Saustawná K Poučeni | Wlastjmu. | Wydal | Jan Swatopluk Presl, | [...7 lines of titles and memberships...] | S 1677 wýkresami na XLI. obrazu předstawenými. | [double rule] | W Praze. | [rule] | 1837.

[Title page of atlas:]

Zbjrka | 1677 Hlatopisných Wýkresůw Na Čtyřiceti Gednom Obrazu Předstawených, | Náležegjcj | K Nerostopisu Cili Mineralogii | Jana Swatopluka Presla. | W Praze. | 1837.

One text volume plus atlas. [Text] 8°: π⁸ 1-38⁸ 39-41⁴ 42²; 326l.; [i]-xvi, [1]-627, [1] p.; [Atlas] Oblong 4°: [2] p., 41 engraved plates. Page size: Text: 214 x 130 mm.; Atlas: 244 x 310 mm.

Contents: [Text] [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; iii-xii, "Předmluwa."; [xiii]-xvi, "Obsah."; [1]-600, Text.; [601]-619, "Registrřjk."; [620]-627, "Dodawky A Naprawenj Omylůw."; [1 pg], "Wyswětlenj zkrácených gmen a slow."

[Atlas] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; 41 engraved plates.

Plates: The atlas consists of 41 well designed, engraved plates showing 1677 figures of crystal drawings. The plates are signed W. Merklas r.

Rare. Considered a valuable textbook of crystallography, with the plates of the atlas illustrating 1677 crystal drawings. Presl relies upon the earlier works of Haüy, Mohs and Naumann. The text covers the basics of crystallography and mineralogy including physical and chemical properties, which is followed by a descriptive mineralogy. Throughout references are given to other authors. An index is included at the end. The atlas contains complex drawings reproducing many crystal forms that were new and the result of Presl's crystallographic researches.

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