Elements of the art of dying; with a description of the art of bleaching by oxymuriatic acid

London: Thomas Tegg, Simpkin & Marshall, Griffin & Co., and J. Cumming, 1824. SECOND EDITION IN ENGLISH. With 9 engravings (4 folding) signed J. Shury. Quarter calf and marbled boards, gilt lettering on spine; other than some minor foxing to plates, a beautiful, clean copy. Bookplates the Essex Institute and Arnold Thackray. First edition of Ure’s translation (second complete edition in English). The Berthollets’ work is considered the first modern book on dying techniques and principles, an attempt to “place the ancient craft of dyeing on a scientific basis” (DSB). The Scottish chemist Andrew Ure (1778-1857) added a great deal of supplementary material when he translated the second French edition, including seven engravings not present in the original.

Berthollet (1748-1822), originally a physician, became a prominent and inspiring French chemist who succeeded Macquer as inspector of dye-works and director of the Gobelins, a tapestry manufacturer. Berthollet was one of the first to accept Lavoisier’s new theories, and he joined with him in devising the new chemical nomenclature. A close friend of Napolean, he accompanied him to Egypt where he founded the Institut d’Egypt at Cairo. In addition to his introduction of chlorine as a bleaching agent, he is noted for placing the operations of dyeing and bleaching on a scientific basis.