Description:

18th Century Science

 

18th C. French Original Scientific Drawings of Marine Life - Superb!

 

A hand sewn booklet containing five original scientific drawings, inscribed in French and dated May 14, 1766. The drawings were likely done by French scientist Etienne Mignot de Montigny (1714-1782), as two of the pages are inscribed "épreuves M De Montigny" [trans: "Monsieur de Montigny's proofs."]

 

The highly detailed drawings of tubular sea plants came from a study compiled by Abbé Guillaume Mazéas (1720-1775), a French curate/scientist. At least two of the drawings (Planche 1re and Planche 2; see below) were later published as figures in Mazéas's definitive study Observations sur la variété des Tubulaires de la classe des pinceaux de Mer, & la mécanique que ces animaux emploient dans la construction de leurs tubes [Observations on the Variety of Tubulars of the Class of Sea Brushes, & the mechanism that these animals employ in the construction of their tubes], presented to the French Académie des Sciences on March 19, 1768. (See attached book title page and figures for comparison.) Were these the preparatory drawings for the published work?

 

The exquisite and original pen and ink drawings, including one with red highlights, are on laid paper. The booklet was very much a work in progress, as some pages are comprised of multiple layered sheets. Expected wear including scattered foxing, overall toning, and a few wrinkles. The binding is loose and the front cover pages is partly detached, else very good to near fine. 7.25" x 10.375".

 

The front cover of our homemade booklet is inscribed "1766 14 may / No 55 menu de M. L. De Mazeas par les Tubulaires de l'ocean" at top, and "épreuves M De Montigny" at bottom. Near the end of the booklet, a similar inscription is found, this time: "No 57 menu de M. L. De Mazeas par la variete des Tubulaires" at top, and "épreuves M De Montigny" below. The drawings within are entitled "Planche 1", "Planche 2", "Table 2e", "Planche 1re", and "Planche 3e" (corresponding to Plate 1, Plate 2, Table 2, Plate 1, and Plate 3, respectively.) The drawings depict eerie underwater sea creatures: long tubes with fan like caps, spiny worms with hair like fronds, and coral like accretions. The drawings are labeled and numbered, and some feature cross-sections.

 

The likely artist of our proofs, Etienne Mignot de Montigny, was a French cartologist and engineer. During the 1730s, de Montigny traveled throughout France, Switzerland, and England conducting research about how to improve the textile industry. He became a member of the Académie des Sciences in 1758, and corresponded with Abbé Guillaume Mazéas about soap manufacturing.

 

Abbé Guillaume Mazéas, the canon of the Cathedral of Vannes in lower Brittany, had a lifelong interest in chemistry, physics, geology, botany, medicine, and optics to name just a few. Mazéas was a correspondent of the Académie des Sciences, and a member of London's Royal Society. He corresponded with British scientist Stephen Hales, the first man to measure blood pressure, and even tried to replicate Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod experiment.

 

Mazéas was legitimately interested in marine life like our tubular organisms, but he had another reason for conducting his studies in the Bay of Biscay. The Société d'Agriculture de Rennes tasked Mazéas with studying how alkali harvested from underwater plants could be used to improve soap manufacturing. Soon Mazéas discovered that mixing the ashes of sea asparagus or pickleweed (like our plants?) with caustic soda, saltpeter, and charcoal made an excellent soap. Mazéas corresponded with de Montigny about this project and even sent him samples.

 

Mazéas was a leading eighteenth-century authority on ocean organisms. Beginning with his 1766 Sur les Tubulaires de l'Océan, Mazéas eventually proved that ocean tubular species differed from Mediterranean ones, and even discovered new insects living on tubulars.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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