Traite de Meteorologie. by Cotte, Louis - 1774

Paris., 1774 4to, first edition. xxxvi, 635 [1] printed pages. 14 engraved copper plates, one folding, by C. & E. Haussard. All edges red. Marbled endpapers. Historic stains on upper corner of the margins for a series of leaves from the title page on & towards the second half of the book. Contents:1. L'histoire des observations horologiques. 2. Un traite des meteores. 3. L'histoire & la description du barometre, du thermometre, & des autres instrumens meteorologiques. 4. Les tables des observations meteorologiques & botanico-meteorologiques. 5. Les resultats des tables & des observations. 6. La methode pour faire les observations meteorologiques.19.5 x 25.5cm. Contemporary mottled calf. Spine in 6 compartments with gilt, hand-tooled floral decoration within double gilt fillet borders. Burgundy morocco title piece with gilt lettering. Upper hinges and foot of the spine worn, corners and edges with rubbing and light wear. Contemporary ink inscription of owners name and date just visible on upper board. Provenance: contemporarary engraved book-plates on front free endpaper of the Turin bookshop of Joseph Gamba and of the library of Charles Giulio (ownership inscription dated 1819 in ink on preliminary blank leaf, and blue ink circular stamp for Biblioteca Giulio on recto of rear free endpaper). Cotte published this first comprehensive study & was the founder of modern metereology. This treatise of his experiments and observations created an international response and considerable scientific correspondence. The descriptions of new instruments, new methods and new theories from other contemporary scientists, such as Franklin's theories on the atmosphere, was central to its success: featuring tables and illustrations of a lightning rod, barometrograph, barometers, hygrometers, rain gauges, thermometers and anemometers. "Chez Joseph Gamba, Marchand Libraire à Turin" was an eighteenth century bookseller dealing especially in fine mathematical and scientific books. Dr. Charles Giulio was a scientist & member of the College of Medicine, & of the Agricultural Society of Turin. He published learned articles on agriculture and also with Francesco ROSSI, and Anton-Maria VASSALLI-EANDI, "Simples expériences galvaniques sur la tête et le tronc de trois hommes, peu de temps après leur décapitation". L'Académie de Turin, 1801: electrical experiments on three mens' heads and torsos, shortly after they had been beheaded! WorldCat locates 24 copies, of which only one in the UK and one in the USA. Uncommon in commerce.. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good.