LUMEN NOVUM PHOSPHORIS ACCENSUM SIVE EXERCITATIO PHYSICO-CHYMICA BY JOHANN HENRICH COHAUSEN 1717 FIRST EDITION

[COHAUSEN, Johann Henrich (1665-1750)]. Lumen Novum Phosphoris Accensum, Sive, Exercitatio Physico-Chymica, de Causa Lucis in Phosphoris tam Naturalibus Quàm Artificialibus. Amstelodami [Amsterdam]: Apud Joannem Oosterwyk, MDCCXVII. [1717].

First edition; leather-bound; hardcover; octavo (16.5cm x 10cm x 3cm); pp. [28], 306, [22]; Latin text; bound in contemporary full vellum; smooth spine gilt; red dyed page edges; engraved allegorical frontispiece representing the mystical properties of phosphorus; title-page in red and black with printer’s woodcut device; decorative capitals; head- and tail-pieces; printed side-notes; 5 engraved plates in total; rear index. Condition: GOOD to VERY GOOD. Binding tight and secure with the hinges and joints intact, some discolouration to covers, contents complete with some light general toning, browning and with spotting, remains of bookplate to front pastedown and with a few old biblioteca stamps throughout; scarce.

Notes: First edition of this work on chemical philosophy, including an address to the reader and concerning all the theories on the phenomena of phosphorescence: natural phosphors of the air, sea and land; luminescence of plants and animals, such as in glow-worms, as well as artificial phosphors (Bononian stone); with a mention of the “hermetic phosphorus” discovered in 1673 by Christian Adolph Balduin. Cohausen served as physician to the prince-bishop of Munster from 1700 and wrote medical satirical works. [Caillet 2426; Duveen p.139; Ferguson, I, 168].