CESSART, Louis Alexandre de.

Description des Travaux Hydrauliques...

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Finely engraved port. of the author, 67 folding engraved plates (some quite large, plate 27 in Vol.I with an overlay flap), & one folding engraved table. 3 p.l., vii, 316 pp.; 2 p.l., xvi, 358 pp. Two vols. Thick large 4to, modern half-morocco & marbled boards (some foxing & browning). Paris: E. Collin, A.A. Renouard, Bernard & Magimel, 1806-08. First edition of this beautifully illustrated record of Cessart’s engineering work. “Cessart [1719-1806], played a key role in the development of construction techniques, particularly of bridges and marine works. His first major achievement was on Voglie’s Saumur bridge where it was found impossible to use cofferdams for some piers. Cessart invented a sawing machine to cut off piles with precision below water level so that an even bed could be prepared for a caisson. Although Labelye had earlier pioneered caisson foundations for Westminster bridge these sat directly on the river bed and were subject to settlement. Cessart’s method ensured much greater success and he also applied the technique for the first time to marine works, notably quay walls at Rouen, scouring sluices at Le Tréport and Dieppe and the great jetty walls at Dieppe. The saw itself was used independently by many other engineers in France... “However, Cessart’s two most famous achievements were the great Cherbourg breakwater and the Pont des Arts in Paris. The breakwater, which was begun in 1783 was intended to provide refuge for the French fleet. Detached from land it was nearly two miles in length and probably the most difficult civil engineering project undertaken in 18th century France. Cessart designed a series of huge, coneshaped timber caissons which were floated out, sunk, and then filled with stones. He describes this immensely elaborate and difficult operation and the whole history of the project. The Pont des Arts, opened in 1804 and the first cast-iron bridge in France, is no less remarkable an achievement. Cessart, now 82 years old, was eager to introduce this new structural material and construction technique to France and because of his great reputation (and age) succeeded in persuading the Government to take the risk of building it.”–Elton Engineering Books, Cat. 14, item 23. Good set. Ex Bibliotheca Mechanica. ❧ Roberts & Trent, Bibliotheca Mechanica, pp. 87-88.

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• nº de pedido: HillBibl-1580

• librero: Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (USA)