Lot Essay
"The first serious treatise on aerostation as a practical possibility." (PMM)
Details
FAUJAS DE SAINT-FOND, Barthélemy (1741-1819). Description des Expériences Aérostatiques de MM. Montgolfier, Paris: Cuchet, 1783-84, 2 volumes, 8° (197 x 119mm.), FIRST EDITION, second issue of the first volume with the four-page supplement at end, engraved frontispiece to each volume, 14 numbered engraved plates, 2 additional plates, and one folding letterpress table (some leaves partly detached, light marginal dampstaining, some spotting), contemporary sheep-backed marbled boards with sprinkled edges (rather worn), preserved in cloth folding case. [Dibner 179; Norman 770; PMM 229; Sotheran I, 1310]. (2)
Provenance
Mathew Boulton (1728-1802) with original booklabel, marginal annotations (cropped) on about 6 pages in his hand, and a large contemporary drawing of a balloon (395x400mm) with calculations on the verso in Boulton's hand (the drawing itself is not by Boulton). This copy also contains two extra plates, in addition to the 14 numbered plates: "Vue du Tapis vert prise andessus de l'orangerie à St. Claud ... Expérience aérostatique de Mrs Robert ... le 5 juillet 1784 à 8 heures du matin" and "Le montgolfier Marie Antoinette. 2me éxpérience faite a Versailles".