LAVOISIER Antoine-Laurent de Opuscules physiques et chymiques. Tome premier.

Cole, 769; Duveen & Klickstein, 121.

First edition, published in a single volume. First issue as described by Duveen & Klickstein.

As early as February 1773, Lavoisier noted in his laboratory notebook that his experiments would ‘bring about a revolution in physics and chemistry’. In September of the same year, he began writing the Opuscules, which he conceived in several volumes, of which he only published the first. In it, he addressed the interpretation of combustion as ‘the release of phlogiston’ that was generally accepted by chemists in the 18th century.

His book is divided into two parts: the first (pp. 1-184): Précis historique sur les émanations élastiques qui se dégent des corps pendant la combustion is a summary of the texts on fixed air. In the second part (pp. 187-436) he presents his experiments, which already demonstrate the compound nature of air. He did not openly attack the phlogiston theory until 1783. ‘Lavoisier, in his first major publication, surveys previous works concerning gases and then presents his own experiments’ (Cole).

A good copy, a few leaves slightly browned, upper corner of first 2 leaves restored.