APPERT (Nicolas). L'Art de conserver, pendant plusieurs années, toutes les substances animales et végétales. Paris, Patris et Cie, 1810. In-8, paperback, grey soft cover, untrimmed. Preserved in a brown half-maroquin case with cold fillet on the spine, gilt title and date, 19th century marbled paper boards, red felt inside. Extremely rare first edition, illustrated with a fold-out plate, of the famous treatise by Appert (1749-1840), who invented the tin can. "Fifty years before Pasteur's work (the pasteurisation method), Appert perfected this process, which consisted in releasing the oxygen from substances by boiling them at the very point of cooking, and then sealing them in tin cans, heated in a bain-marie, then hermetically sealed" (Oberlé). A rare and beautiful copy as issued; it bears the author's autograph signature on the verso of the false title. Vicaire 34 - Bitting 13 - Oberlé 184.