Author: BILLET, [Felix].
Title: Traite d'Optique Physique.
Description: Paris, Mallet-Bachelier 1858-59. Two volumes octavo half gilt morocco (corners a touch worn); 14 folding plates. A crisp, handsome set. ¶ Celebrated - perhaps that's too strong a word - for his bilentilles de Billet, or split lens, Billet's work on polarisation, refraction and interference is of the kind often described as magisterial. This usually means solid, well regarded and free of lunatic theories. More engaging perhaps was his apparatus that made visible multiple rainbows.

Keywords: science optics physics light colour c19th France