L'Art de Conduire et de Regler les Pendules et les Montes. by BERTHOUD, Ferdinand (1727-1807) - 1759

Paris,: chez l'auteur & Michel Lambert, 1759., 1759. 16mo. 4 folding engraved plates. Contemporary calf, spine gilt; upper joint split, worn. Bookplate of Leon Leroy. Very good. All editions very scarce. First edition of the author's first work. How to manage and regulate clocks and watches: for those who have no knowledge of horology. The work is a technical manual for watchmakers and clock-makers trained as tradesmen, rather than philosophers or mathematicians. The beautiful engraved plates depict clock works, watch works, pendulums, and sun-dials. Berthoud's popular work went through six editions through 1836. / Berthoud, scientist, inventor and horologist, was born in Neuchatel, Switzerland, near the center of the famous Swiss watch and clock making industry. He became watchmaker to the King of France, having been named a Master of the craft in Paris, 1753. His father was a burgher of Neuchatel and Couvet, and his wife was also born in Couvet. PROVENANCE: Leon Leroy. Inscribed: "Ce volume a figure a exposition des oeuvres de Ferdinand Berthoud, organisee a l'occasion de la fete d'histoire qui a eu lieu a Couvet, le 15 juillet 1907. Commune de Couvet, Suisse." The rubber-stamp from Couvet places this volume in the commune of Berthoud's parents. Louis Leroy, brother of Leon, had a clockmaking business in Paris. That business was started by Bazile-Charles Le Roy (1765-1839), followed by Charles-Louis, his son, who took over in 1828 and died in 1865. In 1845 Halley-Desfontaines bought a share of the business, and he engaged Louis Leroy in the business (ca. 1860-1935); Louis was trained by his father Theodore-Marie Leroy, himself a watchmaker. In 1914 Leon became a partner to the firm. Betts reports that the firm continues their trade in Paris even today. In short, this copy seems to have a close association with the Berthoud family (because of Couvet) and Leroy is a tie between Berthoud and this copy. NOTE: Chayette of Paris sold much of the personal library of Leon Leroy in 1982. [Collection Leon Leroy; Mouvements Portraits Livres et Documents . . . Collection historique et didactique de mouvements de montres]. REFERENCES: Baillie, Clocks and watches, p. 250; Bromley, ed., The clockmakers' library, 67; Poggendorf, I, col. 168. Berlin Cat. 1757.