5 volumes, 8vo (208 x 131 mm). (Some very minor spotting, a few small stains.) Contemporary diced russia gilt, smooth spines gilt, black morocco lettering-pieces gilt, edges stained yellow. Provenance: Unidentified signature (note about acquisition of the set from Maggs Bros., 1996).

Fourth edition of Thomson's System of Chemistry, which helped secure his reputation in the field, and which would go through 6 separate editions, and which also appeared in French and German. Thomson's reference was based not just on standard compilations, but also a wide range of recent papers. Thomson's writings contributed to the early spread of Dalton's atomic theory, and he's known for invention the saccharometer and for naming silicon.