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Two volumes. Illustrations from photographs. Both (8vo), original printed wrappers. First Editions. The second title signed by Leduc on the front flyleaf

Stéphane Leduc (1853 – 1939) was a French biologist who sought to contribute to understanding of the chemical and physical mechanisms of life. He was a professor at the École de Médecine de Nantes and worked on osmotic crystallisation and the physiological effects of electric current. He was an Officier de la Légion d'honneur. Leduc believed that it is necessary to appreciate biological processes from a physical perspective and constructed models from physics and chemistry to try to explain development and growth; these would typically involve ingenious combinations of chemicals to produce systems which mimicked the appearance of living processes such as karyokinesis and "remarkable fungus-like forms". Leduc sought to synthesise life "by directing the physical forces which are its cause".