La Lumiere, Ses Causes et Ses Effets. Tome Premier: Sources de Lumiere

1867, volume 1 only. A reference copy without boards or spine

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition. Boards and spine lacking, text block only. 23.5 × 15cm, 431pp. French text.

The first volume of Becquerel's important treatise on light which details research on phosphorescence and fluorescence. He introduces his phosphoroscope—an apparatus featuring rotating, slotted discs that allowed him to measure the tiny time intervals (down to fractions of a second) between light excitation and luminescence emission. This work established that fluorescence and phosphorescence are essentially the same underlying phenomenon, differing primarily in duration.

This volume has five of the six plates (lacking the second plate of "spectres de phosphorescence"). The plate showing the Aurora Borealis is present at page 200.

Condition

Poor, a reference copy only. As mentioned, the book lacks the boards and spine but the textblock remains well-bound. Some loss to the remaining endpapers. Light foxing and tanning throughout. 5 of 6 plates present (with two plates on one page).