Mémoire sur l'histoire naturelle de l'Isle de Corse, avec un catalogue lythologique de cette isle et des réflexions sommaires sur l'existence physique de notre globe. [Preceded by] G. Feydel: Moeurs et coutumes des Corses, mémoire tiré en partie d'un grand ouvrage sur la politique, la législation, et la morale des diverses nations de l'Europe. by Barral, P

London and Paris, Molini and Onfroy, 1783. Small 8vo (19.6 x 12.6 cm). viii, 126 pp.; one engraved text-vignette and one folded hand-coloured engraved early geological map. Included: the work by Feydel, Paris, Garnery, an VII (1799). [iv], 112 pp., one hand-coloured engraved frontispiece. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Spine with Empire ornaments and red morocco label with gilt title. Two important papers on Corsica. The one by Pierre Barral (1742-1826) is one of the first geological and natural history descriptions of the island, with the first coloured geological map, Carte phisique de l'isle de Corse 1783 (with some repair at edges), and a Catalogue lythologique of 56 pp. The last part, titled: Reflexions sommaires sur l'existence physique de notre globe represents Barral's "theory of the earth". The preceding paper by Jean-Félix Gabriel Feydel (1744-1827) was published in Paris by Garnery, an VII (= 1799; preface dated 16 September 1798) and contains 114 pages and an engraved frontispiece. On the last page of this work, the printer added a note: "Etonné de ne point trouver dans ce petit ouvrage sur l'état barbare des Corses, une exception à la gloire du géneral Buonaparte, j'ai demandé à l'auteur la cause de ce silence. Il m'a répondu que Buonaparte fut transporté en France à l âge de sept ans: qu'il a reçu toute son éducation au sein de notre patrie...". Feydel was a lawyer and journalist; Barral was a Corsican infantry officer and inspector of roads and bridges who went on to publish several other geological works. Boards rubbed. Rebacked. Old bookplate of J. le Boyer on the front pastedown and Barral title verso; old inscription on Feydel title. Map frayed near folds, a few Japanese paper repairs. Otherwise good. See Cat. BM(NH) 1, p. 100. Barral not in Ward and Carozzi.