Paris, Imprimerie de Ch. Jouaust, (1860). 7 pieces in 1 volume. 2 pp.; 16 pp.; 24 pp.; 13, (1) pp.; 14 pp.; (4), 71, (1) pp.; 40 pp. 4to. Modern half morocco, marbled boards, spine lettered in gilt. Not in Siegelaub, Bibliographica Textilia historiae; Hoefer, vol. xx, cols. 668-678; Dictionnaire de Biographie Française, vol. 16, cols 168-170. Philippe de Girard invented the machine for spinning linen along principles still valid today. He was awarded a million francs by Napoléon and, in anticipation started three factories. But due to political circumstances and the fact that Napoléon did not keep his promise, his factories, very succesful from the start, faced soon ruin and de Girard was imprisoned. Ruined and betrayed by two collaborators, he accepted an invitation by the Austrian government. He again set up a factory and was again succesful. When de Girard was awarded the gold medal given by the Société d'encouragement pour l'Industrie nationale, he returned to France. Despite his brilliant discoveries (de Girard was the inventor of many more novelties) and the intervention on his behalf by journalists, politicians and intellectuals, the government refused to give him any financial help or reward. De Girard died in 1845 and his niece continued to find a way to get the money once awarded to de Girard. Also Charles Dupin appealed to the government, but all to no avail. - A few pieces have contemporary underlining and handwritten notes and comments in the margins, three texts have been bound with their original, printed covers, the last text has a handwritten dedication to Monsieur Gudin or Godin by the Comtesse Vernède de Corneillan, née de Girard.
Reference : 19163
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