Le Journal Des Scavans. Tome Second. Containing the Years 1667, 1668, 1669 Only (despite indications on the half title page of 1670 and 1671 as well] Vellum - 1669

Amsterdam: Chez Pierre Le Grand, Publisher, 1669. Vellum. Good. Bound in vellum. 573 (3) pp. With a few illustrations, including a very basic one of Saturn, and another depicting a hydraulic machine of some sort. All text in French. A collection of three years' worth of the Journal Des Scavans, noted as being the first scientific journal published in Europe, just preceding the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society by several months. Written in letter form, the work provided pieces on history, biography and other subjects, with some relating to the sciences. It began publishing in 1665 under the editorship of Jean-Denis de Sallo, before being suppressed in March of that year. It then resumed publication under Jean Galloys, who edited it from 1666 to 1674. While the half title indicates 1670 and 1671 were also present in tome two, there is no indication these were ever included in this edition. Perhaps of note, pages 519-521 contain a brief account of the astronomical observations of Saturn by Hugens (presumed to be Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens) conducted in 1668 and accompanied by an illustration of Saturn and its rings. Huygens was the first to discover moons around Saturn, as well as to postulate the existence of a ring around it. GOOD condition. Vellum soiled, a bit stained and toned. Some notes in pencil and ink on the inside front cover and first endpaper, with a faint owner's embossment.