Tentamina Experimentorum Naturalium captorum in Academia del Cimento...quibus Commentarios, Nova Experimenta, et Orationem de Methodo Instituendi Experimenta Physica addidit..

Thirty-two folding engraved plates & one folding printed table. Title in red & black. 8 p.l., xlviii, [12], 193 pp.; 192, [14] pp. Two parts in one vol. Large 4to, cont. calf (joints very slightly rubbed), spine nicely gilt, contrasting morocco lettering piece on spine. Leyden: J. & H. Verbeek, 1731. First edition. This book contains the first description of the pyrometer, an instrument for measuring the expansion of solid bodies under the influence of heat. Like many of Musschenbroek's books, the Tentamina contains fine illustrations and is concerned with experiments in measuring humidity, magnets and electricity, air pressure, the structure of ice, heat and cold, capillarity, optics, the motion of sound, etc. Musschenbroek (1692-1761), professor of natural philosophy and mathematics at Utrecht and, later, professor of experimental physics at Leyden, was one of the most celebrated physicists and most important investigators of his time. The experiments described in his books have become classics in elementary instruction. "Underlying Musschenbroek's lectures demonstrated with experiments was the experimental philosophy...the principal source of inspiration was Newton, but Galileo, Torricelli, Huygens, Réaumur, and others were important to this school."-D.S.B., IX, p. 596. A fine and handsome copy. ❧ Wheeler Gift Cat. 276.