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Métrologie,: Ou Traité des Mesures, Poids, et Monnoies [sic] Des anciens Peuples & des Modernes.
by PAUCTON, Alexis Jean-Pierre
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Paris: Chez la veuve Desaint,, 1780. The scientific study and human history of measurement First edition of this analysis of the scientific study of measurement, considering the social history and political implications of quantification. Alexis Jean-Pierre Paucton (1732-1798) secured the mathematics chair at the University of Strasbourg as a result of this book. He relates metrological standards to political and economic policies and contends that effective metrological standards depend on "unrivalled mastery of the Earth's dimensions" (Schaffer, p. 357). This led him to advocate several policies similar to those of the physiocrats, including the abandonment of colonial trade. Paucton's work forms an interesting precursor to the quantification efforts undertaken during the French Revolution. Quarto (253 x 197 mm). Contemporary calf, spine panelled and with floral decoration in gilt, and with raised bands and brown morocco label, covers panelled and with turn-ins in gilt, marbled endpapers, edges red, blue silk bookmarker. Engraved ornament to title page, head- and tailpieces. Formulae and tables in the text. Light bumping and wear, a small spot of stripping to rear cover, cosmetic splits to front joint, holding firm, minor browning and foxing to endpapers and outer leaves, contents otherwise fresh and bright: a very good copy. Goldsmiths' 11963; Kress B. 305. Simon Schaffer, "Ceremonies of Measurement: Rethinking the World History of Science", Annales HSS, vol. 70, no. 2 (Apr. 2015), pp. 335-360.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Peter Harrington
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 172425
- Title
- Métrologie,
- Author
- PAUCTON, Alexis Jean-Pierre
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Place of Publication
- Paris: Chez la veuve Desaint,
- Date Published
- 1780
Terms of Sale
Peter Harrington
All major credit cards are accepted. Both UK pounds and US dollars (exchange rate to be agreed) accepted. Books may be returned within 14 days of receipt for any reason, please notify first of returned goods.
About the Seller
Peter Harrington
Biblio member since 2006
London
About Peter Harrington
Since its establishment, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Peter Harrington first began selling rare books from the Chelsea Antiques Market on London's King's Road. For the past twenty years the business has been run by Pom Harrington, Peter's son.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Raised Band(s)
- Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Quarto
- The term quarto is used to describe a page or book size. A printed sheet is made with four pages of text on each side, and the...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
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