A System of Theoretical and Practical Chemistry. Volume II [only].

London:: Printed for the Author, 1803., 1803. 8vo. [iv], xxvii, [1], 360, xxxi, [1] pp. 4 engraved plates of apparatus (Plate II acts as frontispiece, all plates are unnumbered), index. Crudely rebound in quarter calf, marbled paper over old boards. Armorial bookplate of Aske's Boy School, Haberdasher's Livery Company. Ownership signature on title of Jas. Law Jones, "rec'd from Messrs. Rickers staff & Jones -- 15 Sept. 1803". Scarce. First edition, vol. II only. With added paper (laid in): A Manual of Analytical Mineralogy. Review. Quarterly Review, 1809. 9 pp. pp. 153-161. "This clearly written and well organized book is called the first textbook of general chemistry written in the English language to be based on Lavoisier's new chemistry. The principles are illustrated with experiments." -- Cole. / Accum (1769-1838), born in Germany where the family operated a small soap boiling business. In 1793 Accum came to London to take a position at Brande, apothecaries to George II. He became friends with Anthony Carlisle and William Nicholson and established his own laboratory. He assisted Sir Humphry Davy until 1803 (the year this book was issued). He also began lecturing in 1802 where is students included Benjamin Silliman and William Peck. He supplied apparatus to institutions abroad. Amazingly, in December 1820, he was arrested for mutilating books at the Royal Institution Library, which triggered his exiting England for Germany. "The value of Accum's work lies in the way he saw and exploited the technological possibilities of the rapidly advancing science of chemistry." [DSB]. REFERENCES: Cole 9 (pp. 4-5); DSB I, pp. 43-44Neville I, p. 10.