[ZEITLINGER, Dr. Heinrich] Biblioteca Chemico-Mathematica. Catalogue of Important Works, Chiefly Old and Rare, on Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics and Chemistry, and kindred subjects, Parts I-VI. London; Henry Sotheran & Co., Booksellers to his Majesty the King. 1906-1910.

8vo.; 6 volumes; each bound in original cream paper wrappers printed in black, with original red-printed summary slips tipped onto covers of 2 issues; pp. 72; 73-104; 105-168; 169-232; 233-284; 285-380 (Supplement), with consecutive pagination over the 6 issues; showing some external dust-soiling and light marking, darkening to spine with surface chipping to ends with flaking and small losses; internally sound and clean throughout; one leaf with very neatly excised horizontal strip 3cm deep resulting in the loss of 5 entries from Part I; scarce.

First editions of this legendary reference work for historians of science and for rare book collectors. 

This is the original series of themed catalogues on the exact sciences compiled by Sotheran’s employee Dr. Heinrich Zeitlinger, covering “Mathematics; Astronomy; Physics and Chemistry, and kindred subjects”.  The latter refers to books on subjects as diverse as ballooning; engineering; geodesy; industrial chemistry; meteorology; mining and metallurgy; navigation and naval architecture, photography, etc.  Here are the first 6 parts (seldom found in original format) consisting of issues 666; 672; 676; 682; 692 and issue 702 (which forms Part I of the Supplement).

This comprehensive bookseller’s project eventually spanned a total of fifteen years and would include the cataloguing of 5602 separate books, all listed in alphabetical order of author, with important bibliographic information and, frequently, interesting and pertinent notes and contemporary asking prices.