4to (249 x 194 mm). Half-title; engraved frontispiece, 5 engraved folding plates. (Some minor browning or spotting to a few quires, a few marginal pencil annotations.) Contemporary calf gilt, brown morocco lettering-piece gilt (rebacked preserving original spine, corners renewed, some light wear.) 

FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH of Henckel's study on pyrites, first published in German in 1725.  German naturalist, chemist and mineralogist, Henckel was one of the pioneers of inorganic chemistry. His work on pyrites was influential on porcelain fabrication, particularly in Saxony, and in recognition of his contributions, he was named mining councilor to the elector of Saxony. The French edition was translated by Baron d'Holback, and the plates are by Pelletier and Patte.