BORCH (Michel-Jean, comte de). Lythologie sicilienne ou connaissance de la nature des pierres de la Sicile suivie d'un discours sur la Calcara de Palerme. Rome: Benoît Francesi, 1778. - In-4, marbled havana basane, ornate ribbed spine, red edges (period binding). "First edition dedicated to Pope Pius VI. This treatise is by the Polish-born naturalist and traveler Michel-Jean comte de Borch (1751-1810). He gives a chemical description of the minerals of Sicily. "Assurément les jaspes, les Agates, les Marbres, les Albâtres &c. s'y forment comme par tout. But what is the cause of this prodigious variety of shades that embellish them? What principle modifies the degree of their respective hardness? What variety of different bodies do these products contain? Finally, what vicissitudes do these different natures undergo? Vicissitudes absolutely unique to the country. This is the scope of my reflections. [...] Six chapters will make up this work; the first will deal with how to search for the different substances in stones that contribute to their respective formation. The next three will be devoted to the analysis of products relating to the three qualities of earth we have observed...; the Fifth is intended for semi-metallic products, such as Dendrites, Egyptian Pebbles &c. & the Sixth will offer the indagation of the Principles which give most of the mixed, & accidental products, such as snake eyes, cat eyes &c." (pp. 2, 3 & 7). The illustration consists of the pope's coat of arms on the title, 5 lettrines, 4 banderols, 6 culs-de-lampe, and a curious full-page composition depicting an eye above the sea (p. 22), all engraved in intaglio. A good copy in contemporary binding. First box gnawed by worms, small wormholes on last box and hinges, some spotting. Very good condition inside."