Tentamina experimentorum naturalium captorum in Academia del Cimento sub auspiciis […] Leopoldi Magni Etruriae Ducis […].

2 parts in 1 vol., 4to: [16]-xlviii-[12]-193-[1 bl.], 192-[14] pp.; 32 pl. (front flyleaf loose, some browning and offsetting, pl. 29 and 30 bound in the wrong order).

Contemp. sheep (covers and corners def., front cover loosening), gilt orn. spine with 5 raised bands (joints, head and tail def.).

Enlarged annotated Latin translation by the Utrecht and Leiden professor P. van Musschenbroek (1692-1761) of the "Saggi di naturali esperienze" (Florence 1667) of Count L. Magalotti (1637-1712). Ill. with 32 numb. folding engravings. This influential work on mathematical physics was reprinted in Vienna in 1756. The experiments deal with measuring humidity, magnets and electricity, air pressure, the structure of ice, heat and cold, capillarity, optics, the motion of sound, etc. It also contains the first description of the pyrometer: an instrument for measuring the expansion of solid bodies when exposed to heat. Title in red & black.
Ref. Wellcome IV:23. - Bierens de Haan 3490. - Riccardi 408 ("raro e pregiato"). - Poggendorff II:247. - Wheeler Gift 276.
Prov. Augustin Seguin (bookpl.). - Stamp on title.