Abbé Jean-Antoine Nollet - Leçons de physique expérimentale - 1749

Abbé Jean-Antoine NOLLET. Leçons de physique expérimentale. By M. the Abbé Nollet, of the Royal Academy of Sciences, of the Royal Society of London, of the Institute of Bologna, & Master of Physics to His Grace the Dauphin. Third edition. In Paris, at the Frères Guérin, rue S. Jacques, at Saint Thomas d'Aquin, 1749-[17XX]. With the approval and privilege of the King.
5 volumes in-12 (about 17 x 10 cm), volumes I to V (of 6). Frontispiece engraved in volume I, showing a physics cabinet with figures and instruments. [X] folding engraved plates.

Volume Pages Folding plates
I LX + 379 p. frontispiece + 19
II 488 p. 20
III 512 p. 19
IV 535 p. 14
V VI + 592 p. 20

A flagship work of popular science in the eighteenth century. Abbé Nollet (1700-1770), physicist, member of the Academy of Sciences and Master of Physics to the Dauphin, was famous for his spectacular electricity demonstrations before the Court. His Leçons present mechanics, hydrostatics, air, sound, fire, light and optics, through experiments illustrated with plates of instruments. It was one of the most-read science books of the Enlightenment.
Uniform period bindings in full marbled calf, spine with five raised bands richly adorned with gilded fleurons, title pieces in red morocco ('Physique de Nollet') and darker volume labels, red edges, preserved bookmarks.
Condition: very beautiful decorative bindings overall. Headcaps worn on volumes I and III, tailcaps rubbed, small epidermal scuffs. Interior fresh, paper of good quality, [slight foxing scattered]. Without volume VI.