Anfangsgründe zur Metallurgischen Chimie, in einem Theoretischen und Practischen Theile in der Natur Gegründeten Ordnung abgefasset von C.E. Geller

First Edition, first issue. 8vo. 1 bl. 8 lvs (including beautiful engraved frontispiece), 339, (1) pp, 10 lvs, endpaper, 4 folding copperplates of chemical and metallurgical apparatus. Large folding engraved plate of chemical symbols facing p 172. Cont. leather, very worn but solid, compartmented spine with leather label, internally some browning. Overall VG-. Neville I: 511-512: The very rare first issue of the first edition of this important work on metallurgical chemistry. Gellert introduced the process of cold extraction of precious metals by amalgamation with mercury The table of affinities is only the second to appear after that of Geoffroy (1718, first book appearance: 1741) and reverses order with least reactive at the top in Gellert s table. Gellert symbols: K=Cobalt, X=Zinc; C.X.= Calx of Zinc; C.W.=Calx of Bismuth (Partington II 709-710). ""Christlieb Ehregott Gellert studied at Meissen and Leipzig. From 1736 through 1737, he worked as an instructor at the Gymnasium in Petersburg, then he became adjunct at the Akademie der Wissenschaften until 1746. In 1747 he settled in the mining town of Freiberg he held several positions related to the mining and metallurgical industry. At the founding of the Berg-Akademie in 1765, he was appointed professor of metallurgy and chemistry. Gellert introduced the process of cold extraction of precious metals by the use of mercury, a works (the largest of the time) being built in at Halsbruck in 1790"" (Minrec). References: Hoover 341. Provenance: From the chemistry book collection of Arthur C. Greenberg.