HISTOIRE DES BAROMETRES ET MANOMETRES ANEROIDES - BIOGRAPHIE DE LUCIEN VIDIE, INVENTEUR DU BAROMETRE ET DU MANOMETRE ANEROIDES. Signed copy. de LAURANT, Auguste. SIGNED COPY.:

Paris E. Dentu, 1867.. FIRST EDITION 1867, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. French text, 8vo, approximately 255 x 165 mm, 10 x 6½ inches, original mounted photograph of Vidie as frontispiece, a few text illustrations, 408 pages plus 1 (Contents table), bound in contemporary half morocco, marbled sides, gilt dividing lines, raised bands with gilt rules and gilt lettering to spine, gilt top edges, marbled endpapers, silk marker. Very slight rubbing to 3 raised bands, upper corners slightly worn, frontispiece expertly reinserted on a tab, offsetting on title page, occasional slight pale foxing including on title page. Binding tight and firm. A very good copy of an uncommon book. Born in Nantes (France), Lucien Vidie (1805-1866) began his career as a lawyer but soon turned to engineering, particularly the design of steam engines. The study of manometers awakened his interest in barometers. In c. 1844, he built and patented an efficient aneroid barometer. The instrument, however, did not meet with immediate success in France so he turned to the English market, where he was more fortunate. Auguste Laurant the author has inscribed the half-title: "Offert a M. Emil Gautier. Aug. Laurant 17 D. 67". MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE. FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.