Milestones of Science Books

ROHAULT, Jacques.

Traité de Physique.

Paris: Charles Savreux, 1677.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002990

Two parts in one volume, 4to (244 x 176 mm). [32], 378; 382, [6] (of [8]) pp. 3 engraved plates (2 folding) tipped to outer edges of pages, several woodcut diagrams in text, lacking final privilege leaf. Contemporary French speckled calf, boards and board-edges ruled in gilt, spine with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettered and gilt-tooled in compartments (rebacked, preserving most of original spine), all edges gilt. Text little browned, occasional very minor spotting, blank lower margin of final two leaves frayed and chipped not affecting text, a few annotations and markings in light pencil. Provenance: Edme de La Poix de Fréminville* (signature to first title-page). Very good copy. ----

The French physicist Rohault was born in Amiens in 1620 and died in Paris in 1675. "In 1671, Jacques Rohault published his Traité de physique, a textbook on physics relying on his weekly conferences held in Paris. A good mathematician and at the same time a curious experimenter, Rohault was one of the main Cartesian figures of his time. Connected to Parisian philosophical circles, Rohault was deeply concerned with the reception of Descartes' philosophical views. He was associated with Claude Clerselier and he encouraged Pierre-Sylvain Régis to spread Cartesianism in Toulouse. Performing experiments and using instruments in his observations, allowed for a very good reception of Rohault's natural philosophy in the late seventeenth century. Thus, his textbook on physics was quickly translated and disseminated across Europe." (M.Dobre, Cartesian Empiricisms, pp. 203-226. In: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science book series, AUST, vol. 31). Rohault strongly recommended the use of experiments, discussing them in detail in his textbook. It deals with every part of physics known in his time and he elaborates on optics, mathematical astronomy, the tides, the air, minerals and metals and one of the most important sections is devoted to electric and magnetic phenomena. In 1672 Samuel Clarke translated Rohault's work as System of Natural Philosophy, which was used as a university textbook for more than half a century. With numerous editions, it gained an independent status through its annotations that purported to correct it with reference to the theories of Isaac Newton.
* Edme de La Poix de Fréminville (1683-1773), French lawyer and the so-called "prince de feudiste." Deriving from a Burgundy merchants family and small seigniorial and royal officers, he became a notary in 1713 and settled in Marcigny. Quickly, de Fréminville carved himself a good reputation in the operations of renovation of the burrows (cadastres seigneuriaux) and in the defense of the feudal causes . In 1725, he became lieutenant-bailiff of the Marquisate of La Palisse, then, in 1733, bailiff, a position he held until 1765. Leaving La Palisse, Edme de La Poix de Freminville went to live in Lyon where he died in 1773. Fréminville is known for several treaties of feudal and seigniorial law published during the years 1740-1760, notably the " Dictionnaire ou traité de la police générale des villes." Until the French Revolution he remained one of the most read jurists of his time. - Visit our website for additional images and information.

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