Extensively annotated

Saigey, Emile

La Physique Moderne Essai Sur L'unite Des Phenomenes Naturels [Sydney Ross Copy]

Paris: Germer Bailliere 1867. First Edition. [4], 228 pages. 7 x 4 3/4 inches. 1/4 leather over pebbled paper boards and marbled endpapers. A few worm holes at the joints, front hinge cracked at title page, worn at corners, foxed internally.

From the library of science historian and bibliophile Dr. Sydney Ross with his book ticket on the front pastedown. Inked signature on page 1 "Petrus Guichard", and with stamp of Pharmacie Despech Guichard, Succr on title page. Extensively annotated throughout in pencil, presumably in the hand of Guichard. Marginal notations as well as tipped in sheets, all done in a manner that the text can be read and notes folded out of the way. A previous dealer listing (included) suggests the signature and annotations are likely one Pierre Guichard, b1840 (author of various chemical works). We have not independently determined this. Nonetheless annotated works are interesting to most scholars and institutions. Very Good. Boards. [20975]

Text in French. English title translation: "Modern Physics; Essay on the Unity of Natural Phenomena" Little seems know about Saigey other than a few internet sources noting he was a telegraph inspector.

Previous owner "Sydney Ross, leading chemist and bibliophile, was a former Professor of Colloid Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, and founder, and until his death, and President of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation...From early in life Ross had developed a deep interest in the history of science, a notable publication being Nineteenth-Century Attitudes: Men of Science (Kluwer, 1991). This comprised erudite essays on the word “scientist”, Volta potential, electro-magnetic induction, electro-chemistry, and work of Faraday and Herschel. Using their example, also that of Babbage, Davy, Dalton, Darwin, Cavendish, Leslie, Whewell, Maxwell and others, Ross added knowledge and provided a masterly demonstration of the transition to professionalism in science....Another history publication in 2001, one that evoked an inspiring lecture to the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, was his 590-page annotated Catalogue of the Herschel Library of astronomers William and John Herschel, many of the books which he had bought at auction in 1958....Ross’s main interest latterly was in promoting the life and work of James Clerk Maxwell and in 1977 he became founder chairman of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation which in 1987 acquired and developed Maxwell’s birthplace at 14 India Street, Edinburgh, as a mathematical study centre." (obituary in the Scotsman, 21st Feb 2014)

Price: $125.00