Details
PASCAL, Blaise (1623-1662). Traitez de l'quilibre des liqueurs, et de la pesanteur de la masse de l'air. Paris: Guillaume Desprez, 1663.
12o (142 x 78 mm). 2 folding engraved plates (one with small burn hole touching image), one woodcut diagram in text. Contemporary calf, spine gilt; full morocco folding case. Provenance: Charles Erskine (signature on endpaper); James Erskine of Alva (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST ACCOUNT OF PASCAL'S LAW, stating that pressure in a liquid is transmitted undiminished in all directions. Divided into two closely related parts, this posthumous work is devoted to the laws of hydrostatics and to the demonstration and description of the various effects of the weight of air. Continuing the investigations of Stevin, Galileo, Torricelli, and Mersenne, he provided in the Traits a lucid account of the fundamental concept of pressure. "Using the recently invented Torricellian barometer, Pascal had his brother-in-law climb the Puy de Dme in 1648 and watch the barometer level fall with the ascent, thereby demonstrating that air had weight ... The relationship of barometric change and change in the weather was first outlined here" (Dibner). A FINE COPY. Dibner Heralds of Science 143; Sparrow Milestones of Science 157; Tchemerzine V, p. 59; Waller 12161; Norman 1650.
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FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST ACCOUNT OF PASCAL'S LAW, stating that pressure in a liquid is transmitted undiminished in all directions. Divided into two closely related parts, this posthumous work is devoted to the laws of hydrostatics and to the demonstration and description of the various effects of the weight of air. Continuing the investigations of Stevin, Galileo, Torricelli, and Mersenne, he provided in the Traits a lucid account of the fundamental concept of pressure. "Using the recently invented Torricellian barometer, Pascal had his brother-in-law climb the Puy de Dme in 1648 and watch the barometer level fall with the ascent, thereby demonstrating that air had weight ... The relationship of barometric change and change in the weather was first outlined here" (Dibner). A FINE COPY. Dibner Heralds of Science 143; Sparrow Milestones of Science 157; Tchemerzine V, p. 59; Waller 12161; Norman 1650.