338 résultats
17703928Paris: De L'Imprimerie Royale 1770. Hardcover. Good. Eight volumes of birds; incomplete but a nice run. Quartos. Contemporary leather bindings worn. A profusion of wonderful plates. Uncollated and sold as is. <br/><br/> De L'Imprimerie Royale hardcover
17703928Paris: De L'Imprimerie Royale 1770. Hardcover. Good. Eight volumes of birds; incomplete but a nice run. Quartos. Contemporary leather bindings worn. A profusion of wonderful plates. Uncollated and sold as is. <br/><br/> De L'Imprimerie Royale hardcover books
1788M6851Paris 1788. Very Good; laid on acid-free canvas for long-term preservation. Notes: This handsome sea chart depicts magnetic needle readings along various routes in the North Pacific ocean.<br> Size : 590x1090 mm 23.23x42.91 Inches Coloring: Hand Colored in Outline Category: Maps Sea Chart; Maps Ocean Pacific; Maps United States West; unknown
1789013539Paris: De l'Imprimerie Royale 1789. Original mottled calf leather bindign with recent matching calf leather spine. Heavy wear to the old boards. The first 35 plates are of Apes & Monkeys and includes an image of the Oranutang . All 82 copper engraved images are present except plate #81 the giraffe. Slight moisture stain at the bottom margin near the gutter. Overall in GOOD condition. Photos available upon request. Georges-Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon September 7 1707 -- April 16 1788 was a French naturalist mathematician biologist cosmologist and author. Buffon's views influenced the next two generations of naturalists including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Charles Darwin. Darwin himself in his foreword to the 6th edition of the Origin of Species credited Aristotle with foreshadowing the concept of natural selection and stated that "the first author who in modern times has treated it in a scientific spirit was Buffon". Buffon is best remembered for his great work Histoire naturelle générale et particulière 1749-1788: in 36 volumes 8 additional volumes published after his death by Lacépède. It included everything known about the natural world up until that date. In it Buffon considered the similarities between humans and apes and the possibility of a common ancestry. Buffon debated James Burnett Lord Monboddo on the question of ancestry of the primates to man Monboddo insisting on the closeness of relationship of man and apes. Buffon's work is considered to have greatly influenced modern ecology. His Histoire was translated into many different languages making him the most widely read scientific author of the day. First Edition. Full Calf Leather. Very Good. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Hardcover. De l'Imprimerie Royale Hardcover
1766013538Paris: De l'Imprimerie Royale 1766. All 41 copper engraved plates of Apes & Monkeys are present. Georges-Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon September 7 1707 -- April 16 1788 was a French naturalist mathematician biologist cosmologist and author. Buffon's views influenced the next two generations of naturalists including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Charles Darwin. Darwin himself in his foreword to the 6th edition of the Origin of Species credited Aristotle with foreshadowing the concept of natural selection and stated that "the first author who in modern times has treated it in a scientific spirit was Buffon". Buffon is best remembered for his great work Histoire naturelle générale et particulière 1749-1788: in 36 volumes 8 additional volumes published after his death by Lacépède. It included everything known about the natural world up until that date. In it Buffon considered the similarities between humans and apes and the possibility of a common ancestry. Buffon debated James Burnett Lord Monboddo on the question of ancestry of the primates to man Monboddo insisting on the closeness of relationship of man and apes. Buffon's work is considered to have greatly influenced modern ecology. His Histoire was translated into many different languages making him the most widely read scientific author of the day. First Edition. Full Calf Leather. Poor. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Hardcover. De l'Imprimerie Royale Hardcover
1772(LCPCSCI-0005)(Une jolie édition de Buffon du XVIII siècle, en reliure homogène et avec 257 planches gravées sur cuivre) BUFFON Georges-Louis Leclerc (C.te DE). "HISTOIRE NATURELLE, GENERALE ET PARTICULIERE PAR M. DE BUFFON, INTENDANT DU JARDIN DU ROI, DE L'ACADEMIE FRANCOISE, & DE CELLE DES SCIENCES... NOUVELLE EDITION". 1772, Paris, De Thou. 5 volumes fort in-8° (210x135 mm) (dimensions pages 203x124 mm) I : (2) ff. (faux-titre et titre), 640 pp., (1) f. (table), 2 cartes dépliantes et 9 planches sur cuivre h.t. ; II : (2) ff. (faux-titre et titre), 576 pp., (1) f. (table), 42 planches h.t. dont 1 tableau dépliant ; III : (2) ff. (faux-titre et titre), 558 pp., (1) f. (table), 81 planches h.t. ; IV : (2) ff. (faux-titre et titre), 468 pp. (y compris la table), (2) ff. (table et privilège), 76 planches h.t. ; V : (2) ff. (faux-titre et titre), XX pp. (plan de l'ouvrage), 641, (1) pp., 49 planches h.t. Soit un total de 257 planches sur cuivre h.t. et 2 cartes dépliantes. (I : (2) ff., A-Z8, Aa-Rr8, (1) f. (cahier G8 en double) ; II : (2) ff., A-F8, G-L4, M-Z8, Aa-Pp8, Qq4, (1) f. ; III : (2) ff., A-Z8, Aa-Mm8, (E8 après G1, H1 avant G2, V4-V5 avant T5) ; IV : (2) ff., A-Z8, Aa-Dd8, Ee-Ii4 (un carton après L8) ; V : (2) ff., a8, b2, A-Z8, Aa-Rr8, Ss2) Reliure de l'époque en basane brune marbrée. Dos avec petites décorations dorées et pièces de titre et de tomaison en maroquin vert. Tranches pointillées de rouge. Gardes de papier blanc. Rare édition, complète des 4 premiers volumes et avec le cinquième volume, premier des oiseaux. Petit manque de cuir à la coiffe supérieure du t. I, deux petits trous de ver en queue du t. II et quelques infimes éraflures sur les plats. Petite déchirure marginale, sans atteinte et sans perte au f. B2 du t. II. Petit manque marginale de papier au f. de la table du t. I, avec perte de quelques numéros. Quelques mouillures marginales dans le t. IV, mais très bel exemplaire en reliure homogène. (LCPCSCI-0005) (1.200,00 €)
17359457Paris, Debure l'Ainé (Imprimerie Jacques Vincent), 1735 ; in-4 ; plein veau moucheté havane, dos à nerfs décoré et doré, pièce de titre grenat, roulette dorée sur les coupes, tranches rouges (reliure de l'époque) ; XVIII, (8) (table et errata), 408, (2) pp., 20 planches en 10 feuilles dépliantes.
17511609070017Hambourg i.e. Hamburg 1751-01-01. First Edition. Hardcover. Good. 5 volume set. 9 parts bound as 5. Includes 2 additional works bound also in "Lettres d'un Philosophe a un docteur de Sorbonne sur les explications de M. de Buffon" by Duhamel 1754; "Reflexions sur le Systeme de Generation De M. De Buffon" by Albrecht von Haller. Collated: 2 127 1 50; 2 66 2 66 2; 2 31 1 96 69 1; 2 78 2 92; 2 185 1; 238 2; 2 238 2; 2 258 2; 2 276 2 138 3 67 4 12mo. Bound in full contemporary calf. Gilt stamping to spines. Some of the hinges cracked starting. All edges red. Marbled end pages. Pages clean and unmarked. Sabin 41054. Barbier II col. 1222; Cobres p. 210. Lignac's letters written to an anonymous American with the help of Bouguer was an attempt to refute Buffon and Condillac. Lignac's identified Buffon's attempts to subject natural phenomena to observation and experiment divorced from the literal biblical interpretation and provided an early criticism of the new scientific thinking. "Lignac's criticism was essentially that Buffon "contradicts Genesis in everything" ruins religion and drives God out of natural history." See Roger Jacques "Buffon A Life in Natural History" p. 192. The relevance of this work today is in the changes and challenges facing the French Academy as France entered into the modern era. This is an oversized or heavy book that requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US. Hambourg [i.e. Hamburg] hardcover
177020119Paris, De l'Imprimerie Royale, 1770-1783. 9 volumes in-4, plein veau moucheté brun, dos à nerfs joliment ornés de filets, fleurons et oiseaux dorés, pièce de titre beige ou rouge, tranches rouges.
1770VV080851770-1783 9 vols (complete). 262 engraved plates (by De Seve), 4to, much later rose-red hcalf with black labels and marbled edges and endpapers. Upper ends of spines rubbed, three joints weak. Some occasional slight foxing, but the great majority clean. Faint traces of removal of small circular stamps on title-pages.The complete ornithological section of the scarce first edition (4to edition!) of Buffon's classic Histoire Naturelle. A good sound set.
1766VZ087541766-1785 Vols 1-15 + supplements 1-6; [62], xlviii, 4503 p., 743 (6 folding) pls, 4 (1 double, 1 folding) maps, portrait, 4to (24.5 x 29.5 cm), contemporary paper-covered boards (spines and extremeties worn). Uncut copy. The complete mammal section (+ preliminary volumes) of the scarce Schneider (Amsterdam) edition (in French, not in Dutch as is often the case). A good sound set with large margins.
1785SET48-H-1London: W Strahan and T Cadell 1785. Leather. Good. 8.5" by 5.5". Various. Nine volumes of this popular of natural history. Scarce in this particular translation especially in this complete state. A very good early translation of this classic work in a lovely original binding. Some hinges needing attention but still great to see in this binding. Clean and bright internally. Natural History General and Particular discusses several differing species in the animal kingdom from Apes to the Hippopotamus. Volume IX is a corrections and additions volume providing lots of further information. There are 307 illustrated plates across all volumes conveying numerous animals such as dogs cats and elephants. Collated complete with all plates. Comte de Buffon was a French author and his natural history was originally published from 1749-1804. It spanned to an encyclopedic collection of 36 quartos. This English translation was published prior to the to completion of this work. The work ended up being limited to the animal and mineral kingdoms. This translation has numerous notes and observations by William Smellie a Scottish encyclopedist and naturalist. The Second Edition of this translation. In full tree calf bindings. Externally generally smart with patches of rubbing to the spines joints and extremities. Split to the front joint of volume I. Front hinge to volume I is tender with cords showing. Small loss to the head of spine to volume I. Rear joint to volume I is starting but firm with the hinge tender. Hinges to volume II are starting but firm. Front joint and hinge to volume III have failed and board is detached. Front endpaper has also detached. Rear joint and hinge to vol III is weak and may detach with further handling. Loss to the head and tail of spine to vol IV. Front joint and hinge to volume V are tender with cords showing. Rear joint to vol V is starting but firm with the hinge slightly strained but firm. Front joint and hinge to volume VI are strained. Loss to the head and tail of spine to volume VI also. Both joints and hinges to volume VII are tender with cords showing. Loss to the head of spine and joints to volume VIII. Front joint and hinge to volume VIII are strained but firm. Front hinge and joint to volume IX are weak and held by one cord only. May detach with further handling. Small crack to head of rear joint to vol IX resulting in the hinge being strained but firm. Prior owner's bookplate to the front pastedown with the monogram C R. Internally all volumes are firmly bound. Pages are generally bright with som instances of light scattered spots. Good W Strahan and T Cadell hardcover
1774F8M97DYNZ8OAParis 1774. 4to. Imprimerie Royale 1774-1782 vols. 1-6; Dordrecht A. Blussé and son Contemporary mottled calf gold-tooled spine and board edges vols. 1-6 uniform 19th-century half calf shell marbled sides gold-tooled spine vol. 7. With an illustration vignette or ornament on each title-page woodcut for vols. 1-6 engraving for vol. 7 5 engraved headpieces 2 folding engraved maps "Carte de la chaine des montagnes de Langres" and "Carte des deux regions polaires" 218 plates full-page and folding and including 2 bis all engraved some arithmetic calculations and tables in text woodcut head- and tailpieces. 7 volumes. The complete supplements to Buffon's famous Histoire naturelle with the first 6 volumes in the first edition and the last volume in the new edition published in Amsterdam and Dordrecht the only quarto edition to rival the original French Imprimerie Royale edition.Supplements I II and V contain additions and corrections to Buffon's essay "Théorie de la terre" in which he'' He extrapolated the results of his experiments . . . in order to calculate the time required for the cooling of the earth and other planets'' DSB. Additionally he provides introductions to the history of mineral resources and vegetation in the first and second supplement volumes respectively . The Époques de la nature Supplément V presents a plutonian history of the earth. "This work is of considerable interest because it offers a history of nature combining geology with biology and particularly because of Buffon's attempt to establish a universal chronology'' DSB. It also contains a great deal of mineralogical material he elaborated on in his Histoire naturelle des mineraux. Other volumes contain additions to the quadrupeds and human species section The bindings show some scratches and minor wear but are structurally sound volume 5 with a few water stains in blank corners and on the polar region map. The complete Suppléments to Buffon's masterpiece in very good condition.l Bertin et al. Buffon Paris 1952 especially p. 235; DSB II pp. 576-581; Nissen ZBI 672 678; PMM 198. unknown
178346110Paris: De L'imprimerie Royale 1783. First separate edition 9 volumes complete with 262 engraved plates by De Seve; 4to marbled endpapers title-page engravings and illustrations in the text; extremities rubbed and worn some hinges weak with joints starting v. 1 missing spine labels approx. half of v. 9 spine is perished interior very good and sound plates are mostly fine and bright; overall a good set in full contemporary mottled calf with triple gilt rules on covers insignia stamped in blind on covers excluding v. 6 & 9 all edges marbled gilt-decorated spines red morocco labels lettered in gilt. As noted in Sitwell a new set of 262 uncolored plates were made for this separate edition of the bird volumes the plates in the first edition of Histoire Naturelle Generale were by Francois Nicolas Martinet. Sitwell p. 83; Nissen 158; Wood p. 262; Brunet p.1376 Ebert 3131. <br/><br/> De L'imprimerie Royale unknown books
178346110Paris: De L'imprimerie Royale 1783. First separate edition 9 volumes complete with 262 engraved plates by De Seve; 4to marbled endpapers title-page engravings and illustrations in the text; extremities rubbed and worn some hinges weak with joints starting v. 1 missing spine labels approx. half of v. 9 spine is perished interior very good and sound plates are mostly fine and bright; overall a good set in full contemporary mottled calf with triple gilt rules on covers insignia stamped in blind on covers excluding v. 6 & 9 all edges marbled gilt-decorated spines red morocco labels lettered in gilt. As noted in Sitwell a new set of 262 uncolored plates were made for this separate edition of the bird volumes the plates in the first edition of Histoire Naturelle Generale were by Francois Nicolas Martinet. Sitwell p. 83; Nissen 158; Wood p. 262; Brunet p.1376 Ebert 3131. De L'imprimerie Royale unknown
1799F8MF8IL5AXUJDordrecht 1799. 4to. A. Blussé and son 19th-century uniform half calf sewn on 4 recessed cords shell marbled sides gold-tooled spines each with a red and a black morocco label. Each volume with the same woodcut vase of flowers 2 engraved headpieces 63 engraved plates some tables in text. 2 volumes. 10 276 2; 14 "280" = 284 pp. The reptile and amphibian section of Buffon's monumental work on the general and particular natural history. Many species frogs snakes lizards salamanders turtles etc. are depicted in their natural habitat. The work is here in the new edition published at Amsterdam and Dordrecht the only quarto edition to rival the original French Imprimerie Royale edition. The last 2 leaves in vol. 1 give a list of the plates for both volumes.Georges Louis Leclerc 1707-1788 -- in 1717 his father became Comte de Buffon and Louis XV later made Georges Comte de Buffon -- was an inconspicuous student who only showed a special talent for mathematics. Initially he combined a career in finance with one in science translating important works by Hales and Newton into French. In 1739 Buffon became director of the Jardin du Roi later the Jardin des Plantes and the Histoire naturelle may have originated as a description of the royal collection. It appeared from 1749 to 1804 and eventually comprised 44 volumes. Buffon was assisted among others by the anatomist Louis Daubenton and the final volumes were completed after his death under the direction of Comte de Lacépède.From the Stedelijk Gymnasium Bibliotheek with its stamp on title-pages and a few flyleaves. The present series on reptiles and amphibians had been followed rather than preceded by the series on minerals so that the bindings are numbered 25 and 26. Bindings show some wear and abrasions.l Landwehr Coloured plates 45; Nissen ZBI 678; Schuh's Biobliography of mineralogy online ed. Buffon no. 4. unknown
173574286Chez Debure l'aîné Chez les héritiers Cramer et Frères Philibert | Paris & Genève 1735 et 1744 | 19 x 25 cm | 2 ouvrages reliés en un volume
1770878P19Paris: L'Imprimerie Royale 1770-85. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 6.5" by 4". Not Stated. An uncommon to see complete set of Buffon's influential natural history work these lavishly illustrated eighteen volumes focussing on birds. The first edition.Complete in eighteen volumes.In the original French.Buffon's influential 'Histoire Naturelle'.'Histoire Naturelle' is an encylopaedic work originally running to 36 volumes by Buffon being continued by his colleagues led by Lacepede after his death.An extensive study on birds an essential work of natural history which explores many different species of birds accompanied by detailed engravings.This was an incredibly important resource on the subject of natural history in eighteenth century France providing a wealth of information on all living things accompanied by detailed engravings.Volume I is illustrated with fourteen plates.Volume II is illustrated with fifteen plates.Volume III is illustrated with nine plates.Volume IV is illustrated with eighteen plates.Volume V is illustrated with nineteen plates.Volume VI is illustrated with twelve plates.Volume VII is illustrated with thirteen plates.Volume VIII is illustrated with fourteen plates.Volume IX is illustrated with fifteen plates.Volume X is illustrated with seven plates.Volume XI is illustrated with fifteen plates.Volume XII is illustrated with ten plates.Volume XIII is illustrated with fourteen plates.Volume XIV is illustrated with seventeen plates.Volume XV is illustrated with twenty-four plates.Volume XVI is illustrated with fifteen plates.Volume XVII is illustrated with twenty-three plates.Volume XVIII is illustrated with seven plates.Collated complete. In a full calf binding. Externally a little worn. Bumping to the head and tail of the spines and to the extremities with a small amount of loss to the head of the spines of Volumes I II VII X XI XII XIII XIV and XVI. Light rubbing and a few small marks to the boards and spines. Small chip to the rear board of Volume I. Three small worm holes to the front joint of Volume II to the rear joint of Volume V to the front joint of Volume IX joints of Volume XI joints of Volume XII front joint of Volume XIV front joint of Volume XV and joints of Volume XVII. Two small damp stains to the front board of Volume VIII. Heavier wear to the front board of Volume X with loss of leather. Small mark to the front board of Volume IX. A small amount of loss to the tail of the front board of Volume XII. Two very small patches of loss to the rear board of Volume XIII. Patch of heavier rubbing to the front board of Volumes XV and XVIII. Internally firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean with the occasional scattered spot. Stamp to the title pages. Very Good L'Imprimerie Royale hardcover
173574286Paris & Genève Geneva: Chez Debure l'aînéChez les héritiers Cramer et Frères Philibert 1735. Fine. Chez Debure l'aîné Chez les héritiers Cramer et Frères Philibert Paris & Genève Geneva 1735 et 1744 19 x 25 cm 2 ouvrages reliés en un volume First edition of the French translation of these two texts by Stephen Hales. The translation of the first work originally entitled Vegetable Staticks published in 1727 is the first text published by Buffon. The translation of the second work originally issued under the title Haemastaticks in 1733 is by François Boissier de Sauvages. Our copy is complete with its 20 engraved figures on 10 folding plates for the first text and its folding plate at the end for the second. Contemporary full speckled blond sheep spine in five raised bands richly decorated with gilt compartments rolls and fleurons with a havana morocco title label marbled endpapers all edges speckled red. Headcap and two corners skilfully restored. A few leaves slightly browned. Rare French first editions of these two texts by Hales founder of modern experimental physiology. The Statique des végétaux describes one hundred and twenty-four experiments on plant physiology. Buffon precedes it with an important préface du traducteur in which he praises not only Hales Je ne connais rien de mieux dans son genre et le genre par lui-même est excellent. but above all scientific experiment emblematic of the emergence of modern science: Amassons-donc toujours des expériences et éloignons nous s'il est possible de tout esprit de système du moins jusqu'à ce que nous soyons instruits . c'est cette méthode que mon auteur a suivie ; c'est celle du grand Newton ; c'est celle que Messieurs de Verulam Galilée Boyle Sthall Stahl ont recommandée et embrassée c'est celle que l'Académie des Sciences s'est fait une loi d'adopter . The plates executed with great finesse depict the machines devised notably his famous water apparatus and the processes used by Hales to demonstrate the circulation of sap and the production of gases in the plants he studied. The second treatise following the research of William Harvey and Marcello Malpighi deals with blood circulation. It is in this work that Hales recounts his experiment on arterial pressure using one of his inventions a precursor of the sphygmomanometer. Chez Debure l'aînéChez les héritiers Cramer et Frères Philibert hardcover
175019831Par M. le Comte de Buffon. Grandes vignettes en tête de chapitre.T1/ théorie de la terre - 2 pl et 2 cartes.T2 à T15 : histoire naturelle des animaux - histoire naturelle de l'homme. Description du cabinet du roi.T2/8 pl - T3/17 pl - T4/23 pl - T5/52 pl + 1 pl/ table de l'ordre des chiens - T6/57 pl - T7/48 pl - T8/54 pl - T9/41 pl - T10/57 pl - T11/43 pl - T12/57 pl+1 - T13/59 pl - T14/41 pl - T15/18 pl -T16/T17 : histoire naturelle des oiseaux - T1/29 pl - T2/27 pl -Paris, de l'Imprimerie Royale - 1750 - 1771. - Seconde édition. Certaines gravures sont parfois inversées. Complet de toutes ses planches.Reliure plein veau marbré de l'époque. Dos à nerfs orné et doré avec pièces de titre et de tomaison maroquin rouge. Tranches rouges. Mouillures en bas de pages sur le T10. Parfois quelques rousseurs. Très bon état. Format in-4°(26x20).
1770046643Paris: Imprimerie Royale 1770. First Edition. Hardcover Full Leather. Very Good. The complete Quarto edition 10 1/4" x 8" of Buffon's Birds - 9 volumes with 262 full page uncolored plates published from 1770-1783. Contemporary gilt acid calf with morocco labels marbled endpapers. Spines a bit dry wear at edges often heavy with loss of leather at corners edges dyed red with some some leak into margins in a few spots scattered foxing and toning to pages including to plates though largely in the margins a few minor paper flaws creases small tears at corners endpapers lacking on vol II a few hinges and joints are tender; mostly quite clean and still generally very sound and attractive overall. Spine labels with both the number in the Histoire Naturelle and the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux.<br/><br/> Size: Quarto 4to. 9-volume set complete. Text is clean and unmarked. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Over 3 kilos. Category: Animals & Birds; Antiquarian & Rare. Inventory No: 046643. Imprimerie Royale hardcover
1770046643Paris: Imprimerie Royale 1770. First Edition. Hardcover Full Leather. Very Good. The complete Quarto edition 10 1/4" x 8" of Buffon's Birds - 9 volumes with 262 full page uncolored plates published from 1770-1783. Contemporary gilt acid calf with morocco labels marbled endpapers. Spines a bit dry wear at edges often heavy with loss of leather at corners edges dyed red with some some leak into margins in a few spots scattered foxing and toning to pages including to plates though largely in the margins a few minor paper flaws creases small tears at corners endpapers lacking on vol II a few hinges and joints are tender; mostly quite clean and still generally very sound and attractive overall. Spine labels with both the number in the Histoire Naturelle and the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux.<br/><br/> Size: Quarto 4to. 9-volume set complete. Text is clean and unmarked. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Over 3 kilos. Category: Animals & Birds; Antiquarian & Rare. Inventory No: 046643. Imprimerie Royale hardcover books
1774249221774 Paris, de l'Imprimerie Royale, 1774-1788, 52 volumes in-12, veau fauve raciné, tranches bleues jaspées, dos à 5 nerfs orné de caissons à fleurons dorés avec pièces de titre et de tomaison, (reliure de l'époque).
177089949Imprimerie royale | Paris 1770-1783 | 20 x 26.4 cm | relié
177089949Paris: Imprimerie royale 1770. Fine. Mrs Necker: ""Animals seemed to be the most distant from us and Buffon's art lay in constantly bringing them closer"" our own translation Imprimerie royale Paris 1770-1783 20 x 26.4 cm relié First edition from the Imprimerie Royale complete in nine quarto volumes with all 262 black-and-white engraved plates. Contemporary full mottled calf spines with raised bands decorated with guilloche tooling and gilt ornaments in the compartments red morocco lettering-pieces and numbering-pieces triple gilt fillet border on boards double gilt fillet on board edges marbled endpapers and pastedowns marbled edges. Minor variations in the tooling on volume 3. In this set some headcaps missing 6 cm joints split at foot of volume 1 6.5 cm and 6 cm at foot of volume 2 3.5 cm at head of volume 3 corners bumped scratches and minor restoration to boards including a more significant repair on volume 7 measuring 11 cm browning in left margin of lower board of volume 4. In this copy: some worming several instances of dampstaining throughout the set more pronounced in volumes 1 3 and 8 some tears restored on the title page and on pp. ix and xxiii of volume 1 also restored on p. 496 of volume 2 on pp. 259 and 260 of volume 3 on pp. 481 and 482 of volume 4 and on pp. 173 to 176 of volume 5. Copy with some marginal annotations: in volume 2 a manuscript footnote added in ink on p. 541 ""Voyez les Planches enluminures n°491"" erroneous manuscript dates in ink in volumes 2 and 8 the number ""18"" annotated in ink in the upper right corner of the rear endpaper of volume 9. Copy richly illustrated with drawings by Jacques de Sève engraved by Robert de Launay Lucas Michel Madeleine-Thérèse Rousselet C. Baron Hubert Catherine Haussard Carl Gottlieb Guttenberg Jean-Guillaume Blanchon Menil Dufour Louis Claude Legrand Claude Mathieu Fessard Elisabeth Haussard François Hubert A.-B. Duhamel Mlle Mansard C. Baquoy Heinrich Guttenberg Laurent Guyot Benazeth Schmitz Marie-Anne Rousselet M. R. veuve Tardieu Louis-Gabriel Monnier Pierre-Étienne Moitte Jean-Louis de Lignon Levillain N. du Four Thomas Chambars Nicolas Thomas Luigi Valperga and George Louis Biosse. Accompanied by two additional plates heightened in color numbered XX and XXII from a volume 7 of the Histoire naturelle des oiseaux. The illustrator Jacques de Sève's main work was unquestionably the Histoire naturelle générale et particulière for which he executed nearly 2000 drawings. Unlike the illustrations he produced for other sections of Buffon's monumental work made primarily from stuffed specimens his work on birds was essentially executed from living models. To accomplish this vast project Jacques de Sève drew inspiration from the works of the king's ""Peintre ordinaire"" Jean-Baptiste Oudry. This judicious decision won him the favor of the queen a great admirer of the master of animal painting. By incorporating small Boucher-style putti in the introductory vignettes of certain volumes of the Histoire naturelle des oiseaux Sève also gained the good graces of the king's mistress. These illustrations at once decorative and scholarly which appear in the present first edition were not retained in the duodecimo edition. A superb complete copy of Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon's Histoire naturelle des oiseaux by the French Pliny. As Ferdinand Hoefer wrote this work maintains the same ""magnificence of style"" as the other publications in the Histoire naturelle générale et particulière. Imprimerie royale hardcover