Briefe geschrieben auf einer Reise durch die Schweiz im Jahr 1810 by BENZENBERG, Johann Friedrich

Four engraved plates (one folding). 4 p.l., 296 pp., 3 leaves of ads for the author's other works; 2 p.l., 514, [8] pp. Two vols. Small 8vo, cont. orange-brown speckled boards (spines a little rubbed), orange leather lettering pieces on spines. Düsseldorf: J.H.C. Schreiner, 1811-12. First edition of a scarce and appealing work. Benzenberg (1777-1846), professor of mathematics at the Lyceum in Düsseldorf, performed many original scientific investigations in the fields of astronomy, physics, and geodetics. He was the first to demonstrate that the earth revolves, a problem which had perplexed scientists since Copernicus (see D.S.B., I, pp. 615-16). This is an account, recorded in a series of long letters, of a scientific journey through the main cities and industrial sites of Switzerland as well as to many of the most notable features of geology and natural history. He records his visits to many leading scientists of Switzerland and his examination of observatories and instruments. There are sections on his corroboration of Chladni's theory of the cosmic origin of meteorites, Gauss's examination of Benzenberg's demonstration that the earth revolves, and his own important experiments with barometers. Fine set. The plates depict scientific instruments and an observatory.