206 - RAUCOURT (Antoine).

RAUCOURT (Antoine). A Treatise on Lithographic Experiments (sic) Conducted at the Royal School of Bridges and Roads of France; or A Theoretical and Practical Manual for Lithographic Draftsmen and Printers. Toulon: Aug. Aurel, 1819. — In-8, 225 x 138: (3 ff.), 210 pp., 1 plate, blank cover. Paperback, untrimmed. A very rare first edition of the leading French manual on lithography of the period, alongside Senefelder’s treatise, which was translated that same year. Antoine Raucourt (1789–1841), an engineer at the École des Ponts et Chaussées, had been commissioned by Engineer Bérigny to examine the potential of lithography for reproducing course materials at the École des Ponts et Chaussées. He composed this treatise, which he divided into four parts: the first covers the preparation of inks, oils, etc.; the second describes the tools; the third deals with the precautions that draftsmen and printers must take; the last discusses the various applications of lithography, as well as some related issues. The edition is illustrated with two plates, arranged here on a single large fold-out sheet. A paperback copy as published, enhanced by a superb autograph letter signed by Antoine Raucourt, 2½ pages in-4, addressed to “Monsieur Prost, Lieutenant Colonel of the Military Engineers at the School of Engineering in Metz,” dated November 6, 1819. “Please accept a treatise I have just published on the art of lithography. I hope it will serve as a favorable reminder of me to you and remains a token of my gratitude for the kindness you have shown me; you have surely not forgotten that I owe you more than my life. I am referring to my admission to the École Polytechnique… ” He then discusses his career and the projects under his supervision. A fine paperback copy, as originally published. Water stain at the top of the cover; tears along the spine and the edges of the covers.