[Fireworks. Frezier] 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 sortes de feux d'artifice. III. Où l'on donne une idée de la conduite des feux de joye. Par le Sr. Frezier. The Hague, Jean Neaulme, 1741, IV, XVIII,394,(6) p., 394,(6) p., with engraved frontispiece dated 1707, 8 plates and 3 illustrations, contemporary calf, 12mo.

Stained copy, affected by damp; small wormhole to blank top corner. Hinges and backstrip split, leather damaged on spine ends and outer corners of boards. The scarce third edition, an unauthorised copy of the original 1705 edition. Classic and famous work on fireworks by Amedee François Frezier (1682-1773), in his days one of the most influential writers in this field. In 1739 a magnificent fireworks display (made by Ruggieri) was staged at Versailles in honour of the peace and the wedding between Madame Première de France and Philip of Spain. Our extremely successful edition was a direct consequence of the public amazement at these fireworks. Shortly after, Frezier wrote a second edition which appeared in 1747 in three variants. Philip F110.3; J.E. Hodgkin (Rev. III: Books on fireworks), p. 41f.