Histoire de la télégraphie.

2 vol., 8vo: [4]-269 pp., 34 pl. (min. staining, min. fox., min. dam. to paper).

Contemp. red morocco, covers bordered with a gilt fillet and a blind roll-stamp, gilt orn. flat spine, gilt edges, marbl. endpapers (min. worn and min. dam.). Good copy.

Rare standard work on telegraphy, the science or practice of using or constructing communications systems for the transmission or reproduction of information. Chappe discusses the various attempts made by the ancients to achieve rapid transmission of announcements at great distances, the French telegraph, the obstacles the inventors had to face, and finally telegraphs subsequently established in different countries, as well as various writings published on this invention (Wikipedia). The second vol. contains 34 engr. after Margerie, which clarify the text part. Ignace Chappe put this book together in honor of his brother Claude, who made numerous improvements in the field of communication.
Prov. Librairie Alain Brieux (bookseller's label).