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SCHEELE, Carl Wilhelm (1742-1786). Chemische Abhandlung von der Luft und dem Feuer. Introduction by Torbern Bergman. Uppsala and Leipzig: M. Swederus for S.L. Crusius, 1777.
8o (167 x 99 mm). Engraved title vignette and one engraved folding plate (lacks half-title, title with marginal repair, laid down.) Later half tree sheep, spine elaborately gilt. Provenance: Gustav Broling (19th-century ink stamp on title).
FIRST EDITION OF A FUNDAMENTAL WORK ON CHEMISTRY. The publication of this work was delayed by two years, since the author was waiting for the preface by Torbern Bergman, thus permitting Priestley to publish the first account of the isolation of oxygen. "On air and fire contains accounts of the numerous chemical experiments Scheele performed to demonstrate that common air, when freed from 'aerial acid' (carbon dioxide) and water vapor, consists of two gases: 'fire air' (oxygen) which supports combustion, and 'fire air' (nitrogen), which does not... Scheele made numerous other important contributions to chemistry, including the discoveries of chlorine, manganese and a number of acids. He also noted the action of light on chloride of silver and the insolubility of blackened silver chloride in ammonia--discoveries that would later prove significant for photography" (Norman). Dibner Heralds of Science 41; Grolier/Horblit 92; Partington II, pp. 205-234; Norman 1905.
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FIRST EDITION OF A FUNDAMENTAL WORK ON CHEMISTRY. The publication of this work was delayed by two years, since the author was waiting for the preface by Torbern Bergman, thus permitting Priestley to publish the first account of the isolation of oxygen. "On air and fire contains accounts of the numerous chemical experiments Scheele performed to demonstrate that common air, when freed from 'aerial acid' (carbon dioxide) and water vapor, consists of two gases: 'fire air' (oxygen) which supports combustion, and 'fire air' (nitrogen), which does not... Scheele made numerous other important contributions to chemistry, including the discoveries of chlorine, manganese and a number of acids. He also noted the action of light on chloride of silver and the insolubility of blackened silver chloride in ammonia--discoveries that would later prove significant for photography" (Norman). Dibner Heralds of Science 41; Grolier/Horblit 92; Partington II, pp. 205-234; Norman 1905.