Faraday's detailed observation of the candle (presented in five lectures at the British Royal Institution, which he had founded) its composition, and the physical nature of its flames, is published here complete with the original candle illustrations and explanatory tables. Also, his lecture about the “new, exciting” metal – platinum – and its extraordinary attributes in the laboratory.

This edition of The Chemical History of a Candle, is a re-print of the original edition (England, 1908). This book is a re-print of the 1st edition and it is the original work photographed as it was, with all the imperfections and difficulties a book of its age can present. Our aim is the preservation of these fine examples of creative human thinking in print.