Histoire Naturelle, générale et particuliere, avec la description du Cabinet du Roi.
Eur 7,500 / USD 8,200
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Amsterdam, Schneider/ Dordrecht, Blussé, 1766-1799. 38 parts, bound in 19 vols. 4to (267 x 210mm). With engraved portrait of Buffon, numerous engraved vignettes, 10 folding engraved maps and 1144 engraved plates. Contemporary uniform green half calf, spines with red gilt lettered label, gilt lines, lettering and ornaments, marbled sides.
the only 4to edition to rival the original French Imprimerie Royale edition
The present 'l'Allamand' edition is the only 4to edition to rival the original French Imprimerie Royale edition (1749-1804) in 44 volumes. It does not contain the later published volumes by Lacépède on fishes and whales, as these were published after the date of above edition, it however contains numerous additions by l'Allamand which were included in the later French Buffon editions. All plates are after drawings by de Sève, the famous French landscape painter. The animals are depicted in their natural habitat, amidst charming landscapes, villages, rivers, mountains etc. These elaborately drawn plates, full of elegance, became exceedingly popular and have often been copied by later artists.
"Schneider's edition in the French language was called a 'Nouvelle Edition' on the title-page. It was edited by Jean Nicolas Sebastien Allamand, professor of natural history at the University of Leiden. The order of the articles is generally similar to the Paris edition, but Allamand changed the sequence when he thought it fitting and he added articles about new or little-known mammals in suitable places within Buffon's text". (L. Rookmaaker. J.N.S. Allamand's additions ... to the 'Nouvelle Edition' of Buffon's 'Histoire Naturelle').
"Buffon's work is of exceptional importance because of its diversity, richness, originality, and influence. Buffon was among the first to create an autonomous science, free of any theological influence. He emphasized the importance of natural history and the great length of geological time" (DSB).
The contents of the volumes is as follows: Histoire naturelle générale, & Les Mammifères. 15 volumes with portrait and 603 engraved plates. - Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux. 9 volumes with 263 engraved plates. - Histoire naturelle des Quadrupèdes ovipares et des serpent. 2 volumes with 63 engraved plates. - Histoire naturelle des Minéraux. 5 volumes with 8 large folded maps. - Supplement. 7 volumes with 215 engraved plates and 2 fold. maps. The work is rare as only 150 copies were subscribed (see subscibers list vol. 9).
Faint occasional marginal dampstaining to a few vols. not touching the plates. A fine and attractive uniformly bound copy. Free endpaper with old printed name.
Piveteau 150; Nissen ZBI, 678.