Information
Atlas SDT (but first half of the 19th century), in oblong 2nd (mm. 630 x 460), manuscript. Calligraphic title page, noble coat of arms in whitewash, followed by 29 plates executed in black ink and watercolors, which depict planimetric drawings, views in sepia, sections of the De Larderel industrial establishments, in the area of boraciferous geysers, coeval binding in long-grain red morocco, plates framed by a large gold and embossed frame, spine redone. §Atlas of the geometric and architectural maps making up the boracic acid plant in Tuscany owned by Messrs. Chemin Pratt Lamott and Larderel, year 1834. SDT in 4° oblong, (mm. 320 x 225). Title page and 22 plates depicting views, planimetric drawings, coeval red leather binding with embossed gold decoration, 3 concentric frames on the plates, embossed decoration in the center of the plates.
Specialist Notes
The extraction of boric acid from the lakes was started in 1818 by the Frenchman Francois Jacques Larderel, who founded the town of Larderello. Since 1827 geothermal steam has been used to heat boric waters; the following year there was the first rudimentary drilling to extract the steam. Thus the Tuscan borax region was born, a great producer of substances such as boric acid, sodium perborate, ammonium carbonate and talc powder. In 1903 the Florentine prince Pietro Ginori Conti, son-in-law of the count de Larderel, became general manager of the Larderello company and started the production of electricity for the first time through the use of geothermal steam (1904). The developments of the geothermal industry born in Larderello have been an example for all the other geothermal areas of the world.
Lot declared of notable historical and cultural interest by the Archival Superintendency of Lazio.