The origins of the candle go back farther than we can trace. It is known that the Egyptians used candles, which, likely, evolved from the rush- light, a taper made by saturating the pithy core of Nile reeds with molten fat.

Candles have been fashioned from many substances, tallow being the original base. 

Beeswax was later substituted because it had a pleasant, aromatic odor-much in contrast to the smell of burned fat. 

By the late 1700's, spermaceti, a wax crystallized from whale oil, be- came the dominant candlemaking material. 

However, as petroleum replaced whale oil, paraffin-a pure petroleum wax by-product-re- placed spermaceti.

Book is in good condition. General shelf and corner wear. Some white marks on the front and back cover. Some fraying along the cover edges. A solid reading copy. Please see photos for details, and let me know if you have any questions.