First edition of a work on mineralogy by the French geologist and mineralogist Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847), intended as a textbook for the mineralogical courses given by Brongniart and René Just Haüy at the Faculté des Sciences and the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle. "For this purpose, the author created a simple classification system based primarily on physical properties, but also influenced by Haüy's crystallographic theories. Brongniart insisted that studying how minerals occurred as well as their properties would lead to a better understanding of their origin" (Schuh). The engraved plates depict crystals and mining instruments and mechanisms.
With an armorial bookplate on past-down of both volumes. Bindings rubbed. Internally in very good condition. Schuh 869; Sinkankas 953; Ward 331.