1. French, 1800.
Élémens | de | Minéralogie | selon | la Méthode de Daubenton, | Par Auguste Traversay. | [rule] | La science n'est que le souvenir ou des | faits ou des idées d'autrui. | Helvétius. | [rule] | [Script initials "L D" enclosed within a double circle.] | A la Rochelle, | Chez Bouyer, Feères, Imprimeurs, | et chez Déterville, rue du Batoir, n^o. 16. | A Paris.

8°: π² A-G⁸; 58l.; [i]-xxx, [1]-81, [1] blank, [4] errata p. Page size: 197 x 120 mm.

Contents: [i-ii], Half title page, "Élémens | de | Minéralogie.," verso blank.; [iii-iv], Title page, verso "Avis."; [v]-viii, "Hommage | aux mânes | de Daubenton."; [ix]-xij, "Discours | Préliminaire | Qui a servi de Prospectus à ces | Élémens de Minéralogie."-signed Auguste Traversay, "19 Frimaire an 8 de la République française.' [=8 December 1800].; [xiii]-xxx, "Introduction."; [1]-81, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.; [4 pgs], "Errata."

Very rare. In this prospect work, Traversay comments and expands upon Daubenton's theories of mineralogical classification. The author was a disciple of Daubenton, and his Élémens was published as a prospectus to enlist subscribers to fund a fuller treatment. In France at the time, Daubenton's mineralogical theories had become very popular through his public lectures and numerous writings including many contributions to Buffon's Encyclopédia and his Tableau Mineralogique (1st ed., Paris, 1784). Apparently, subscribers for the larger work were lacking however, because the volume never appeared. Here, Traversay follows Daubenton by suggesting that the ordering of minerals should be into Stones, Fossils, Combustible Substances, and Metals. Products of volcanoes should be described separately.

Bibliographical references: BL [T.965.(7.)]. • CBN [no copy listed]. • LKG: XII 153. • NUC [no copy listed].