LA FOLIE (or FOLLIE) Louis Guillaume de. Le philosophe sans prétention ou l'Homme rare. Ouvrage physique, chymique, politique et moral, dedié aux Savans.
"Paris, Clousier, 1775. 8vo: frontispiece, large title-vignette and half-page headpiece all engravedby Boissel after L.S. Contemporary mottled calf, gilt-ruled, spine gilt, spine a little dulled, old library stamp on title-page and page 59. First edition of this strange work, a science fiction novel in which the author also expounds his theories in physics and chemistry. A visitor from Mercury arrives on Earth in an 'electrical flying machine', the description of which is considered as the first forerunner of the dynamo: the machine is illustrated in the frontispiece. The Mercurian, Ormaris, acts as the mouthpiece for La Folie's own scientific opinions: these are mainly in the fields of electricity, geology and mineralogy but especially in chemistry. He ridicules Meyer's findings on 'acidum pingue' and attacks Priestley's theories on 'fixed air', revealing his knowledge of current controversies.Nicolson 'Voyage to the Moon' pp.195-200; Messac p.19; Mohler & Nicolson 'The first ""Electrical"" Flying Machine' (in Essays in honour of W.A. Neilson)."
£950
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