SAINT-ROBERT, Paul, Count of. Sadi Carnot. Biographical note - Lot 129

Lot n° 129
Go to lot
Estimation :
1500 - 2000 EUR
SAINT-ROBERT, Paul, Count of. Sadi Carnot. Biographical note - Lot 129
SAINT-ROBERT, Paul, Count of. Sadi Carnot. Biographical note. Turin, Royal Printing Office, 1868. In-8° of 22 pp. Sewn, red cover. Offprint from the Atti della Reale Accademia delle Scienze di Torino, vol. IV. Count Paolo de SAINT-ROBERT (Verzuolo, Italy, 1815-Turin, 1888), an Italian engineer, was a former colonel of artillery. The copy presents two precisions provided by CHASLES, written in pencil in the margin by Sadi CARNOT, and is enriched by the correspondence exchanged between Sadi CARNOT (6 autograph drafts signed "SC" or "S Carnot", from Annecy) and SAINT-ROBERT (4 LAS from Turin), from September 22, 1868 to September 11, 1869, on the publication of the work. Sadi Carnot, Nancy, Sept. 22, 1868: "Mr. de Roussy has at the same time spoken to me about a publication in which you intend to make known to the learned world a man whom political circumstances, a not very expansive character and a premature death have condemned to a quasi obscurity and whose works are still today appreciated at their value only by a few elite intelligences. [...] I have gathered and coordinated notes given to me by my father on the life of his beloved brother and I am pleased to send you this small biographical note. My uncle Sadi Carnot was not a politician and longer details of his life would be of no interest to the reader. His biography can only be extended by examining his scientific research and studying the manuscripts he left [...] " Saint-Robert, Turin, Oct. 2: " [...] Among the papers left by your uncle, are there any that relate to the theory of heat? If so, I think it would be good to publish at least an extract of them, if they are not in a condition to be published as he left them. I am of the opinion that all of Sadi Carnot's research on this subject must be of great interest to the learned public. [SC, [Annecy], Dec. 29, 1868: "[...] It is with extreme pleasure that I read your report. I am pleased with your appreciation of my uncle's work and I thank you sincerely for making it known to the learned world by taking into account the state in which Sadi Carnot found science and the prejudice of the materiality of heat. When a great scientific progress is achieved, one too often forgets what were the obstacles that stopped the precursors and promoters of this progress in their discoveries [...] " S-R, Turin, January 10, 1869: " [...] I am happy that my analysis of your illustrious uncle's work has met with your approval. May it place Sadi Carnot in his true place in the history of Thermodynamics [...] " S.C., January 16, 1869 : " [...] My father will be very happy to see his brother placed by you in his place in the history of science. I believe I am authorized to tell you in advance all the satisfaction that my father will feel to see the homage paid by you to his elder brother [...] ". With a "note from Mr. le Cte de St Robert" about the works and life of Nicolas Sadi CARNOT, manuscript of 2 pp. in-4° " [...] Finally one would like to have as much information as possible about a man who was the precursor, if not the founder, of a science which opens new horizons, which will end up bringing back the physical and chemical sciences to the laws of mechanics, and which will be the most beautiful scientific title of our time."
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue