‎BERTRAND, E. ‎
‎Dictionnaire Universel des fossiles propres et des fossiles accidentels, contenant une description des terres, des sables, des sels, des soufres, des bitumes (...). 2 vols. - [IMPORTANT WORK ON ORYCTOLOGY]‎

‎A la Haye, Pierre Grosse & Daniel Pinet, 1763. 8vo. Uniformly bound in two nice contemporary full mottled calf bindings with five raised bands and richly gilt spines. Small paper-label pasted on to top of spine. Light wear to extremities, primarily affecting spines. Internally fine and clean, a nice set. (4), XXXII, 284 pp" (4), 256 pp.‎

Reference : 61106

‎First edition (Hague-edition – an edition in Avignon was published same year, no priority has been established) ""Scarce. An early comprehensive dictionary defining terms used in the 18th century study of oryctology, which by today's convention would include all of the earth sciences such as geology, mineralogy, crystallography, paleontology, and vulcanology. In the alphabetical list, various terms deal with earths, salts, sulfurs, bitumens, petroleum, simple and complex stones, common and precious gems, minerals, metals, petrifications of animals and plants, the latest theories on their formation, and their uses. In many instances a substantial definition is provided, which shows Bertrand's good knowledge of the subject.” (Schuh, Mineralogy & Crystallography, A Biobibliography, 1469 to 1920, 523) Elie Bertrand (1713-1797) was a Swizz geologist and naturalist, but also theologian, economist and tutor and one of the key representatives of the Swizz Enlightenment.‎