JEFFRIES, David
Traité des diamants et des perles; où l’on considère leur importance, on établit des règles certaines pour en connoître la juste valeur, et l’on donne la vraie méthode de les tailler
Paris, Debure & Tillard, 1753.
8vo (199 x 121 mm) 4 unn.ll., XXXV, 104pp., 10 engraved plates. Contemporary marbled calf, spine gilt with raised bands, marbled edges (some wear to top of spine).
1 200 
Sinkankas, 3198; Voir Hoover, 453 (seconde édition anglaise de 1751).

In stock

First edition of the French translation of this important book on diamonds and pearls.

This French translation contains significant differences from the original English edition of 1750, notably in the preliminary discourse where the translator gives, among other things, the works to be consulted by gemstone enthusiasts as well as a glossary of some technical terms (p. XXX-XXI). The work ends with tables of costs for the cutting of the stones. The engraved plates show the size of brilliant-cut diamonds (plates 1 to 5), a compass with a clamp (plate 6), as well as the size of rose-cut diamonds (plates 7 to 10).

The fine plates depict size of brilliant cut, and rose cut diamonds, and a tool.

“This edition is the translation by Chappotin S. Laurent, of the Royal Library, Paris, in which considerable differences may be noted, principally in the preliminaries, but the text itself remains faithful to the original. The preliminary discourse generally discusses a variety of topics that others have treated in earlier works on gemstones and specific comments are made on certain books that are recommended to the reader for further study” (Sinkankas).

Very good copy.