Etudes sur la biere, ses maladies, causes qui les provoquent, procédé pour la rendre inaltérable, avec une théorie nouvelle de la fermentation

Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1876 First edition of Pasteur's groundbreaking book on fermentation. Though lacking the ads, which are an indication of state, this book has the scarce ads for Pasteur's Etudes sur la maladie des vers a soie (1870) at the rear. Contemporary or slightly later quarter red calf over marbled boards, rubbed at extremities. . Octavo. Twelve lithographic plates, woodcuts in text. A little light foxing. Inscribed on the half-title to Pasteur's nephew, J. Vichot, with "affectionate remembrances, L. Pasteur." This book has been cut down slightly for binding, and portions of several letters in the inscription are shaved. Otherwise very good. In this work, Pasteur "described a new and perfected method of preparing pure yeast [and] emphasized that yeast occasionally required small quantities of oxygen in order to retain its 'youth' and its capacity to germinate in oxygen-free environments. Having now achieved a new appreciation for the importance of oxygen in brewing, and especially the advantages of aerated wort, he insisted only that air should be carefully limited and freed of foreign germs rather than entirely eliminated" (DSB). (Inventory #: 12989)