Octavo, 184 pp. Contemporary paper binding. Note that quire A is bound in incorrect order but complete. Paper restorations to the binding; minor corner flaws, browned title page, some foxing. Dimensions: 20.5 x 12.7 cm.
A significant edition of this treatise on volcanology by Comte de Montlosier (1755–1838), in which he examines the formation, activity, topography, and effects of the volcanoes in Auvergne.
Montlosier was the first in France to assert that “the melting of lavas emitted by volcanoes is not caused by underground combustions and [that] it is not due to the lack of carbonaceous fuel that volcanoes become extinct” (cf. François-Dominique de Larouzière, Le Comte de Montlosier: une vision originale des volcans d’Auvergne à la fin du XVIIIe siècle, in Travaux du comité français d’histoire de la géologie, 3rd series, vol. XVII, 2003, online).
This work outlines more broadly “the author’s original views on the nature of the volcanic structures of the Puys chain and the Monts Dore, views grounded not in intellectual speculation but in field observation. He distinguishes between ‘ancient volcanoes’ and recent ones, proposes original and visionary interpretations of the formation of volcanic domes, describes the damming of valleys by lava flows leading to the formation of lakes, observes relief inversions and provides a coherent explanation, highlights the role of erosion in shaping landscapes, and dismisses the idea that the incandescence of volcanoes is due to the combustion of underground coal or bitumen” (ibid.).
Annotated by a Contemporary Reader
This copy is annotated by a contemporary reader whose notes suggest they were a figure of scientific importance, perhaps even an authority in volcanology or natural history at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.The manuscript ex-libris on the title page has been partially erased: it appears decipherable, but its full identification remains elusive. The abundant and precise annotations, employing technical vocabulary and demonstrating deep knowledge of local geology and volcanology, focus primarily on pp. 82–140, the sections dedicated to the origin of volcanoes.
The reader does not hesitate to highlight what they perceive as weaknesses in Montlosier’s treatise, particularly in matters of topography and physical explanations. Their commentary is highly critical.
For instance, on p. 104: “The author assumes that the space between the Jura and the Alps was a gentle slope. With such suppositions, one can address all difficulties.” Or on p. 88:
“All this [development] is based on no solid foundation. Basalts did not flow into valleys; they have always been where they are.”
The annotations reject generalizations or reasoning deemed too hasty, as well as geological and geographical inaccuracies. Regarding the lavas “lying on gravel beds” near Clermont or Gergovie and the mountains covered by lava plateaus in the region, the reader denounces oversimplifications: “The sediments enveloping the granite-sided neighboring mountains are not the same as those enveloping the mountains in the middle of the Limagne.”
An Important Copy. This annotated volume provides valuable insights into contemporary scientific discourse, highlighting both the influence of Montlosier’s work and its contentious reception among his peers.
Offered by Librairie Nicolas Malais
$1250
To purchase, contact librairie–nicolas@orange.fr
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