Bertrand, Élie; Dictionnaire Universel des Fossiles propres et des Fossiles accidentels, contenant une Description des Terres, des Sables, des Sels, des Soufres, des Bitumes, des Pierres simples & composée, communes & prétieuses transparents & opaques, amorphes & figurées, des Minéraux, des Métaux, des Pétrifications du Règne animal, & du Règne végétal, &c. avec des recherches sur la formation de ces fossiles, sur leur origine, leur usages, &c. The Hague: P. Gosse, Jr. & D. Pinet, 1763. Octavo, Two vols. in one, titles printed in red & black, pp. 1, xxxii, 284 and pp.; 1, 256.
The work is complete and in contemporary marbled boards with a later calf spine and gilt spine label. The binding is tight, boards scuffed, titles bright. The text is lightly toned in first few pages, else bright, 1810 inscription on end sheet. In good condition.
Bertrand (1712-77), was a Swiss naturalist and geologist and a member of many scientific societies throughout Europe. He wrote extensively on earthquakes, the structure of the earth and mineralogy. His above work is an early comprehensive dictionary defining terms used in the 18th century study of oryctology or the earth sciences such as geology, mineralogy, crystallography, paleontology, and vulcanology. In the alphabetical list, various terms deal with earths, salts, sulfurs, bitumens, petroleum, simple and complex stones, common and precious gems, minerals, metals, petrifications of animals and plants, the latest theories on their formation, and their uses. In many instances Bertrand provides a substantial definition. The work was published at the same time in The Hague and Avignon.
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