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Adopt a Book was established to provide extra resources to build the fund for acquisitions of new books for the Smithsonian Libraries. When you adopt a book, a bookplate will be added in your name and the Libraries will use your contribution to purchase new books. In doing so, you help the Libraries grow its collection.
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Catalogue des mammifères et des oiseaux observés en Algérie.
Amount: $340.00

Catalogue des mammifères et des oiseaux observés en Algérie. 

by Victor Loche.  Paris, [1858].

This small work supplements the official reports of the Exploration Scientifique de l’Algérie (see separate listings).  The official birds and mammals volumes of the Expedition by Commandant Victor Loche (1806-1863), an active collector in northern Africa during and after the Expedition, were the last issued and were preceded by this work in which Loche first described and named several new species.  For that reason this catalog is an important adjunct to the expedition reports.  It is quite rare, being held by only seven libraries in the U.S. 
De gravitate corporum terrestrium...
Amount: $375.00

Q.F.F.Q.S. Dissertatio gradualis, De gravitate corporum terrestrium, quam, consensu ampliss. facult. philosoph. in Reg. Academ. Upsal. sub praesidio... Dn. Samuelis Klingenstierna...; publico examini modeste subjicit, Arvidus Arvidi Roman, Nericius, in Audit. Carol. Min. ad d. 17 Junii, anni MDCCXXXVII. horis ante meridiem consuetis.
 
Samuel Klingenstierna, praeses. Arvidus Arvidi Roman, respondent.
Upsaliae: Literis Höjerianis, 1737.
 
Graduate dissertation defended by A. A. Roman at the University of Uppsala discussing the effects of gravity upon terrestrial bodies.
 
[together with:]
Dissertatio gradualis de gravitate lunae . . .
 
Samuel Klingenstierna, praeses. Gabriel Kolmodin, respondent.
Holmiae: Literis Wernerianis, 1734.
 
[and]
Dissertatio gradualis de gravitate aeris. . .
 
Samuel Klingenstierna, praeses. Johann Kristiern Duraeus, respondent.
Upsaliae, Literis Wernerianis, 1732.
 
These three scarce dissertations, all relating to gravity, were presided over by the noted scientist Samuel Klingenstierna.
 
Dr. Alexander Volta... über die thierische Elektrizität...
Amount: $575.00

Dr. Alexander Volta, k.k. Professors der Physik &c. zu Pavia Schreiben an den Herrn Abt Anton Maria Vasali... über die thierische Elektrizität: als eine Fortsetzung der Schriften desselben über die thierische Elektrizität, herausgegeben von Dr. Johann Mayer...
 
by Alessandro Volta. Prag: Bey Calve, 1796.
 
First German edition of Volta’s theory of electricity denying Galvani’s conclusions and affirming his own contact theory. Originally published as Nuova memoria sull'elettricità animale. Lettera terza.
Le Grand Dépot (Paris, France) Porcelaines, faiences & cristaux ...
Amount: $600.00

Le Grand Dépot (Paris, France) Porcelaines, faiences & cristaux ... [Paris : s.n.], 1889. A rare trade catalogue from the Paris firm of Le Grand Depot, who manufactured porcelains, faiences ceramics and glassware. It contains with color illustrations of a variety of tablewares in many popular patterns.
Livres de malacologie et de conchyliologie formant partie de la bibliotheque de Mr. J. G. Hidalgo
Amount: $615.00

Livres de malacologie et de conchyliologie formant partie de la bibliotheque de Mr. J. G. Hidalgo. 

by J. G. Hidalgo.  Madrid: s. n., 1888.

One of the very few malacologists in Spain in the 19th century, Joaquín González Hidalgo y Rodríguez (1839-1923) served as the Professor of Malacology at the University of Madrid, specializing in the mollusks of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and the Philippines.  SIL holds a half-dozen of his major works.  He built a fine shell collection and research library, which were eventually deposited in the Museo National de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid, but neither is readily accessible.  Thus it will be of interest to researchers at NMNH to be able to consult this bibliography, which identifies the books he owned and used in his work.  Extremely scarce, this work is held by only one other library in the U.S. and by two universities in Madrid.

 
Théorie de la machine à vapeur.
Amount: $620.00

Théorie de la machine à vapeur. Ouvrage destiné à prouver l’inexactitude des méthodes en usage pour évaluer les effets ou les proportions des machines à vapeur...
 
by François-Marie Guyonneau de Pambour. Paris: Bachelier, 1839.
 
First edition of a fundamental work on the thermodynamics of the steam engine. Guyonneau de Pambour’s most important contribution to the theory of the steam engine dealt with the exact calculation of the work obtained under a given set of operating conditions.
Commentatio II. De Zoolitho-dendroidis in genre et in specie de Schwartzburgico-Sondershusianis curiosissimus ac formosissimus...
Amount: $650.00

Commentatio II.  De Zoolitho-dendroidis in genre et in specie de Schwartzburgico-Sondershusianis curiosissimus ac formosissimus...
 
by Albrecht Ritter.  Sonderhausen: [s.n.], 1736.
 
Albrecht Ritter (1684-1748) was in instructor at the royal Stiftscollegium at Ilefeld, Germany.  Although relatively little is know about him, he was an early proponent of taking students into the field and learning from direct observation of and experience with the natural world.  A member of the Leopoldinian Academy, he wrote several short works on fossils and "formed stones," as fossils were conceived of in the period.  This book is on fossil dendrites and alabaster from the Schwartzburg/Sonderhausen region of Germany, and is cited in Emanuel Mendes de Costa's Natural history of fossils (London, 1757).  This work is quite rare, held by only one library in the U.S., the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. 
Exploration scientifique de l’Algérie. Géologie et minérologie: Géologie de l’Algérie.
Amount: $655.00

Exploration scientifique de l’Algérie. Géologie et minérologie:  Géologie de l’Algérie.

M.E. Renou.  Paris, 1848.  

Conceived and directed by the naturalist Bory de Saint Vincent, one of the first modern, systematic biological surveys of northern Africa was undertaken by the French government in the early 1840s and resulted in a multi-volume series of scientific publications under the title of the Exploration Scientifique de l’Algérie.  SIL’s holdings of the set were incomplete.  This folio volume on the geology and mineralogy of Algeria includes five double-sized lithographed maps (two hand-colored).  
De natura et veritate methodi fluxionum...
Amount: $700.00

D.D. Disputatio, De natura et veritate methodi fluxionum, quam, consent. ampliss. facult. philos. in illustri Acad. Upsaliensi, praeside, ...Dn. Samuele Klingenstierna...; pro gradu publice ventilandam sistit Daniel Melander, Stockholmiensis, in Auditorio Carolino Majori, die XXV. Aprilis, A. MDCCLII. H.A.M.S.
 
Samuel Klingenstierna, praeses. Daniel Melanderhjelm, respondent.
Upsaliae: Typis Laur. M. Höjer..., [1752].
 
A scarce copy of Daniel Melander’s (1726-1810) dissertation on the rival claims and speculations that led to a concrete understanding of the nature and beauty of calculus.
Memoria sopra la scossa che provano gli animali : nel momento che cessano di fare arco di comunicazione fra i poli d'un elettromotore e sopra qualche, altro fenomeno fisiologico dell'elettricità.
Amount: $700.00

By Stefano Marianini. Venezia: Dalla tip. di Alvisopoli, 1828.
 
Bound with:
- Marianini, Stefano. Memoria sopra la teoria chimica degli elettromotori voltiani. Venezia: Dalla tip. di Alvisopoli, 1830.
- Marianini, Stefano. Memorie di fisica sperimentale. Modena: R. Tip. camerale, 1838-1841.
- Marianini, Stefano. Metodo per ottenere i bassi-rilievi in rame: senza apposito elettromotore voltaico. Novara: Tip. Artaria e Comp., [1840]
 
Three works by Stefano Marianini, follower of Volta's work on electro-motors, and pfofessor of physics in Venice and then in Modena. 
Olivier’s entomologie, oder naturgeschichte der insecten
Amount: $715.00

Olivier’s entomologie, oder naturgeschichte der insecten
 
by Johann Karl W. Illiger.  Braunschwieg: K. Reichard, 1800-1802.
 
The first volume of G.A. Olivier’s classic Entomologie, ou, Histoire naturelle des insectes (Paris, 1789-1808: 6 volumes of text + 2 volumes of plates) was translated into German by Karl Illiger (1775-1813), with supplementary illustrations by the great entomological illustrator Jakob Sturm; SIL holds both Olivier’s French original and the volumes of Sturm’s plates, and now adds Illiger’s German text.
Sur la théorie de Franklin : suivant lequel les phénomènes électriques sont expliqués par un seul fluide.
Amount: $750.00

By Martinus van Marum. [Haarlem?: s.n., 1819].
 
An early supporter of Lavoisier, Marum did important work in chemistry (discovering carbon-monoxide) and developed a new electricity machine with shellac disks passing through a mercury bath. This volume of his is illustrated with text diagrams and an impressive long folding mezzotint plate dramatically depicting an electrical discharge.
Georgii Trapezuntii In Claudii Ptolemaei centum aphorismos commentarius...
Amount: $750.00

Georgii Trapezuntii In Claudii Ptolemaei centum aphorismos commentarius : eiusdem, De antisciis, in quorum rationem fata sua reijcit. Item ab eodem, Cur astrologorum iudicia plerumque fallant. Nunc primùm omnia in lucem êdita. Additus est dialogus Ioannis Pontani, in quo doctissimè disputatur, quatenus credendum sit astrologiae...
 
By George of Trebizond. Coloniae: Ioan. Gymnicus excudebat, Anno 1544.
 
A collection of notable works relating to astrology dealing with body condition, the soul, luck and accidents, and various medical topics all dealt with in terms of their relationship to the stars.
A large dictionary English and Dutch, in two parts.
Amount: $750.00

A large dictionary English and Dutch, in two parts:  wherein each language is set forth in its proper form… .  4th edition, corrected and enlarged.

by William Sewel.  Amsterdam:  Jacob Ter Beek, 1749.      

The Cullman Library has been building a collection of foreign-language dictionaries from the same time periods as the books in our rare collections (16th-19th centuries), so that researchers can consult contemporary sources when reading and translating the books.  Latin, Dutch, German, French, and Spanish have been the top priorities, with Swedish, Portuguese, and Italian as a second tier.  For 18th-century Dutch we recently bought the 4th edition of Sewel’s English-Dutch dictionary (first published in 1691).  A recognized classic in its field, it also contains a grammar for both languages and other prefatory material and was still in print in the 19th century.
Numbers
Amount: $750.00

Numbers

by Robert Indiana and Robert Creeley. Stuttgart: Domberger ; Düsseldorf: Galerie Schmela, 1968.

The catalog is a collaboration between the poet Robert Creeley (1926-2005) and the influential American pop artist Robert Indiana (1928- ) (best known for his Love graphic and sculpture). The book contains 10 screen-printed number designs by Indiana and 10 accompanying poems (one for each number) by Creeley printed in both English and German.
   
 
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