Theorie de la Terre. 5 vols.

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

Paris: Chez Maradon, 1797. 8vo. With 8 fold-out engraved plates, marbled pastedowns and end-papers. Beautiful marbled calf with gilt stamped border decorations and spines, brown place-keeping ribbons. A handsome set. Fine. NOTE: Delametherie (1743-1817) was a French scientific journalist, mineralogist, geologist, biologist, chemist, and natural philosopher. He was a bit of a maverick, he became chief editor of the journal Observation sur la Physique, and used it to promote ideas he favoured "and sometimes to rectify injustices supposedly done to unfortunate scientists-especially those committed by others of overmagnified reputation" (DSB, Vol. VII, 603). He was especially at odds with Lavoisier. He had a significant impact on mineralogy, and determined that major features of the earth were the 'result of the combined action of crystallization, moving water, and shifts in the planetary-motion characteristics of the earth". These ideas are put forth in his Theorie.