Vallemont, Abbe de Pierre De Lorrain; Description de l'aimant, qui s'est formé à la pointe du clocher neuf de N. Dame de Chartres....Paris, 1692. Octavo, pp. 12, 215.
The work is complete and in a contemporary calf binding with gilt titles and spine panels. Faded period ownership address on front paste down. Binding is tight and clean, text is very clean, in very good condition.
Pierre Le Lorrain, (1649-1721) better known by the name of Abbe Vallemont, physicist, writer and French numismatist, was born at Pont-Audemer.
He received a doctorate in theology and came to live in Rouen and then went to Paris and undertook the education of the son of Mr. Poilart, a counselor to the French parliament. He was an avid collector of books and read all the books that appeared on Science, He took notes from his readings and made notes of all his observations while taking walks. Upon moving to Vallemont he became the “Abbot of Vallemont” and this name appeared on all of his published works. He collected numerous objects including, machines, specimens of natural history, and medals. His collections became well known and attracted visitors from across Europe.?The title of his above work is “A Discussion of the Magnetic Character of a Piece of Iron that Belonged to the Steeple of Notre Dame de Chartes..” However the work goes beyond describing the magnetic characteristics of the one piece of iron and is actually an important treatise on magnets and magnetic theory.