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[xx], 566, [2] pp. 17 folding copperplate engravings. (4to) period full calf, red leather spine label. First Edition.

“Réaumur was called by his friends ‘the Pliny of the 18th century’ for the richness and diversity of his scientific activity. In this ‘Art of converting iron into steel and of rendering cast iron ductile’  he revealed for the first time hitherto secret details of the process and also came very close to the correct explanation of the nature of steel, that it is iron combined with a small quantity of carbon.” -- Hoover 677.  Although his “Réaumur process” was more or less ignored in the 18th century, it found wide commercial use in the 19th century. The treatise also contains what is considered to be the first account of commercial metal-testing methods, including a bend test and a hardness test.  Norman Library 1803.  Singer, Technology, III, pp. 28-29.  Partington, III, p. 64.  DSB, XI, pp. 328-330.