Geologie - - Pallas, Peter Simon.

Geology - - Pallas, Peter Simon. Observations sur la formation des montagnes et les changemens arrivés au globe, particulièrement à l'égard de l'Empire russe; lues à l'Assemblée publique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de Russie du 23 juin, 1777, que Monsieur le comte de Gothland daigna illustrer de sa présence. St. Petersbourg, de l'imprimerie de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences, 1777. 1 leaf, 49 pp. 26.5 x 21.5 cm. Later green half morocco binding with embossed spine title. First edition. - Observations on the formation of mountains, with special attention to the Russian Empire. Peter Simon Pallas (1741-1811) laid the foundation for modern geology here. - Very good, clean copy with wide margins. Rare first edition of these observations on the formation of mountains around the globe but with special attention to the Russian Empire, also published in: Acta Academiae scientiarum imperialis Petropolitanae, pro anno 1777, pars prior (Saint-Petersbourg, 1778, pp.21-64). Pallas laid here the basis of the modern science of geology, without establishing what one might call a full-blown paradigm. - Later green half morocco, gilt. - Fine copy. *