Optics.- Lambert (Johann Heinrich) Les Propriétés Remarquables de la Route de la Lumière..., first edition, second issue, 2 folding engraved plates, marginal closed tear on title, title verso strengthened at gutter, a few light stains to second plate, contemporary vellum, decorative endpapers, 8vo, The Hague, Nicolaas van Daalen, 1759.

*** Scarce first edition of Lambert's first published book, discussing the path of light rays in air and other media. Lambert began working on aspects of refraction through the atmosphere in 1752, and from 1754 this work was carried out in parallel with his work on photometry. The book is divided into three parts: 'Les propriétés générales de la route, qui la lumière prend, en passant par des milieux réfringens, sphériques et concentriques'; 'Des réfractions astronomiques, de la manière de les déterminer par approximation aussi exactement que l'on voudra, et de leur rapport à divers autres problèmes'; and 'Des réfractions circulaires, de leur usage pour la détermination des réfractions terrestres: et de divers autres problèmes dépendant des réfractions tant astronomiques que terrestres'.

Remarkably, during the entire period 1756-58 Lambert was traveling through northern Europe and so carried with him a small library. Lambert mentions that he is working on another work in optics and promises to publish it soon -this would eventually be his Photometria.

First published in 1758 by H. Scheurleer, the present volume is the second issue published in 1759 by Nicolaas van Daalen. Library Hub lists only one copy of the 1758 first edition.