PYROTECHNICS - FREZIER, (AMEDÉE FRANCOIS).

Traité des feux d'artifice, Ou l'on voit. I. La manière de préparer les Matières qui entrent dans la Composition des Feux d'Artifice. II. La Méthode de faire & de composer toutes fortes de Feux d'Artifice. III. Où l'on donne un idée de la Conduite des Feux de Joye.

Haye, Chez J. Neaulme, 1741. Small 8vo. Cont. full mottled calf w. five raised bands on back, back richly gilt. Small holes and lack of leather to lower capital and back-hinge, due to insect-bites. Bdg. somewhat worn. Internally a bit of brownspotting and occationally a little soiling, but overall fine. Engr. frontispiece (= engr. t-p. dated 1707), 8 full-page engr. plates and 3 about half-page engr. vignettes. (6), XVIII, 394, (6) pp.

This is the Dutch reprint (in French) (also called the "pirated edition") of the first edition from 1706/07, with the engraved title-page from this. The second edition appeared in 1747. "In 1741 Neaulme issued a pirated edition which again, apart from variations on the title-page, is identical to the 1706 edition. Encouraged by this pirated edition Frezier wrote a second edition which appeared in 1747 in three differing versions." (C. Philip, p. 59).
Very important reference-work on firewirks. "Frezier was probably one of the most important pyrotechnics in the mid 18th century..." (C. Philip, p. 58). He borrows heavily from other authors, but his works are interesting, also as they scrupulously cite the sources. The plates show different kinds of fireworks, with many illustrations on each and the vignettes show displays of fireworks, as this work also deals much with the conduct and displaying of these.

Order-nr.: 29138