One of the XX rarest Pyrenean books - Lot 9

One of the XX rarest Pyrenean books ARCET (Jean Pierre Joseph DARCET ou d') Mémoire sur l'Action d'un feu égal, Violent, et continué plusieurs jours sur un grand nombre de Terres, de Pierres & de Chaux Métalliques... (followed by) Second Mémoire sur l'Action d'un feu égal, violent (followed by) Discours en forme de Dissertation sur l'état actuel des Montagnes des Pyrénées et sur les causes de leur dégradation... Paris, Cavelier 1766-1771-1776. 3 works in an in-8 volume: 122pp. - VI, 170pp. - 134pp. 3pp. 1f. Contemporary marbled fawn basane, ornate smooth spine, red title-piece, shaved headband, cold fillet framing the boards, rubbed gilt roulette on the edges, red edges. Extremely rare collection of d'Arcet's 3 memoirs, including one of the XX rarest Pyrenean books. Born in Doazit in the Landes region, d'Arcet chose to study Sciences rather than Jurisprudence; he taught Latin to support his studies in Bordeaux. He met Montesquieu, became his protégé and later his friend. He helped the philosopher gather material for "L'Esprit des Lois". Through his research on fire, he discovered the method for making porcelain discovered by Boetticher, but whose secret was jealously guarded in the Duchy of Saxony, which forbade any export of the product. He also demonstrated the complete combustibility of diamonds. As tutor to the young Secondat, d'Arcet cultivated his literary skills, and the style of his memoirs reflects this. His speech on the mountains of the Pyrenees at the Collège de France was a memorable one, as it was the first time a French-language address had been delivered at the venerable institution. D'Arcet taught there for 27 years. Director of the Manufacture de Sèvre, inspector of the Gobelins, d'Arcet rendered immense service in the application of physics to the arts. The Mémoire sur l'Etat Actuel des Montagnes des Pyrénées is one of the rarest works on the Pyrenees. Complete with 2 leaves, often missing. Provenance: From the library of G. Bontemps, with his printed bookplate.