Observations d'histoire naturelle, faites avec le microscope, sur un grand nombre d'insectes

Louis Joblot

Briasson, Antoine-Claude, 1754

2 volumes bound in 1.  Quarto.  Bound in modern leather. New spine labels.  Collated: 49 of 53 plates. Lacking 4 plates Vol. 1: 11, 12; Vol 2.: 16, 17. Occasional very minor waviness from an old damp stain. Refs: Nissen 2114. Clay & Court, History of the Microscope, pp. 57-61. Dobell, Leeuwenhoek and his Little Animals, p. 372.  Dictionary of Scientific biography VII, "The first French microscopist ... Joblot "introduced some improvements, including the use of stops (diaphragms) in compound microscopes to correct for chromatic aberration. Joblot designed the first porte loupe, a simple preparation microscope in which the lens is supported by a string of 'Musschenbroek nuts,' forming a ball-and-socket jointed arm." 

  "Louis Joblot (1645-1723) is often neglected in the history of microscopy. A contemporary of Leeuwenhoek, who is recognized as the first to observe and record microbes, Joblot, in his own right, was an equally innovative inventor and theorist. A professor of mathematics at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Joblot explored and lectured on perspective, optics, and geometry, leading to his personal pursuit of microscopy during the period of 1680-1716. His landmark work from 1718 presented his own developments and modifications of the microscope, observations of protozoa, and his opposition to the theory of spontaneous generation. Joblot's new microscope permitted precise focusing by eliminating stray light and enabling the mounting of a diverse array of specimens. The microbes became clearer and more visible. He would refer to the microbes he observed in terms such as "fishes" or "caterpillars", or even provide mirthful names such as "slipper", "gobbler", or "bagpipes"." - Louis Joblot - the other father of microscopy, The Shelf, Harvard Library Blog, Oct. 13, 2013.