17th-20th century books used by Dr Charles Singer in writing The earliest chemical industry: an essay in the historical relations of economics and technology illustrated from the alum trade (Folio Society, 1948) .
The collection contains early mineralogical works, treatises on mineral waters, guide books and accounts of volcanoes, including Sir William Hamilton's Campi Phlegri (Naples, 1776) with hand-coloured plates of volcanic eruptions (SPEC Spence 96-97). Presented by Peter Spence & Sons Ltd., chemical manufacturers of Widnes in 1949.
