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First and only Dutch edition: on the practical use of a newly invented life jacket

LA CHAPELLE, Jean Baptista de.
De Scaphander. Of de Konst om in de diepste Wateren dryvende te gaan en allerhande werk te verrigten.

With 4 engraved plates on 2 large folded sheets by B. de Bakker after the plates in the original French edition, charmingly illustrating the water-jacket and water-pants discussed in the text.

With 4 engraved plates on 2 large folded sheets by B. de Bakker after the plates in the original French edition, charmingly illustrating the water-jacket and water-pants discussed in the text.

With 4 engraved plates on 2 large folded sheets by B. de Bakker after the plates in the original French edition, charmingly illustrating the water-jacket and water-pants discussed in the text.

With 4 engraved plates on 2 large folded sheets by B. de Bakker after the plates in the original French edition, charmingly illustrating the water-jacket and water-pants discussed in the text.



Amsterdam, G. Warners & Harlingen, Volkert van der Plaats, 1777. 8vo. Contemporary wrappers (back cover loose), uncut. With 4 engraved plates on 2 large folded sheets by B. de Bakker after the plates in the original French edition, charmingly illustrating the water-jacket and water-pants discussed in the text. (2), VIII, 139, (1) pp.

First and only Dutch edition of an interesting treatise describing and depicting the practical use of a newly invented life jacket (water jacket and water pants) enabling men to remain in water for extended periods of time and to walk upright through the deepest waters or to enable people to execute work to be done in water, deep or shallow.
Jean Baptista de la Chapelle (1710-1792) was a mathematician and one of the contributors of the Encyclopaedia of D'Alembert. He is the inventor of the word 'Scaphander', which is derived from the Greek word 'scaphos' (boat) and 'andros' (man). The treatise has been translated into German in 1776 and into Dutch (the present edition) from the Traité de la construction théorique et practique du scaphandre, ou du bateau de l'homme, first published by De La Chapelle at Paris in 1775. The Dutch translation was made by Cornelis van Engelen (1722-1793), a Dutch scientist, member of several foreign Academies of Sciences, and translator also of Buffon. Van Engelen dedicated the book to the Directors of the Dutch National Life-Boat Society, founded at Amsterdam in 1767, because the author considered these swimming devices also of importance for use of people not able to swim and for preventing people from drowning.
The present  flotation suit was according to the author a big improvement on earlier inventions by Thevenot, Digby, Wynman, Gelaci, and especially on the more recent invention by Wilkinson. La Chapelle's invention consisted of a sleeveless jacket covering the upper body, and a pair of trousers, the jacket comprising floats to transform the wearer so to speak into a human boat, as is indicated also by the French title. The floats could be altered to allow the wearer to submerge. The floating suit was originally designed for military purposes, and the suit was accompanied by a special hat in the shape of a swan. This hat served both, to disguise the person in the water in order to enable him to approach the enemy unnoticed, and to carry ammunition over the water without wetting it. The plates beautifully depict the floating suits, both in detail and in full use.

Good copy.- (Spine dam., back wrapper and title loose).
Bierens de Haan 844 (erroneously with the date 1787); cf. Poggendorff I, 1338 (French ed.); Quérard, La France Litt. IV, 361 (idem).

Related Subjects: Hunting  Militaria  Sports & Recreation  Swimming 

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