79 résultats
181935267Strasbourg: F.G. Levrault 1819. Fine. F.G. Levrault Strasbourg 1819 12 x 20 cm relié First edition a sequel would appear in 1827 then another until 1832. Contemporary half sheep binding in brown. Smooth spine with fillet and roulette. Yellow edges. Permanent Secretary of the Academy of Sciences it was Cuvier's responsibility to compose these biographies of celebrated scientists who had been members. These were read during public sessions; the first volume brings together the speeches delivered from 1799 to 1810 the second from 1810 to 1819. The work also contains Cuvier's reception speech at the Academy as well as a preface on the future of sciences. F.G. Levrault unknown
183125690sD11London: Whittaker Treacher and Co. 1831 The Class Reptilia arranged by the Baron Cuvier with specific descriptions by Edward Griffith and Edward Pidgeon481pp plus 110pp being a synopsis of the species by J.E.Gray.56 full page engraved platesSmall chip to spine title panel with no loss of text.Book size 250x165mm. Whittaker, Treacher and Co. hardcover
183725143London: G. Henderson 1837. First edition. Hardcover. Very good overall. Full collection of the engravings from the four volume atlas neatly trimmed just outside the margin retains all printed text and beautifully laid out in an album complete with the title page. A full suite of plates for this edition a total of 435 plates Mammalia 48 Birds 67 Reptiles 30 Fishes 70 Insects 104 Arachnids 6 Crustaceans 38 Annelides 10 Molluscs 38 and Zoophytes 24.<br /> <br /> The classic work of the French naturalist Georges Cuvier 1769 - 1832 containing the results of his extensive research into the structure of living and fossil animals.<br /> <br /> Folio album 108 pp 4 plates laid down to a page marbled end papers. In an early binding quarter green buckram and dark green buckram boards. Covers slightly dusty the cloth spine intact with some cracks; small amateur cloth repair at front board. The plates at the last leaf with some toning otherwise bright and clean. G. Henderson hardcover
18313535New York: G. & C. & H. Carvill 1831. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. With 19 of 20 plates lacking the first plate in Volume 1. Modern calf-backed marbled boards; some foxing to text leaves in Volume 1 otherwise a very good clean copy. Bookplate in each volume of the Newburyport Public Library and dated in manuscript Jan. 8 1859 plus book label on the rear paste-down. First American edition of a landmark in the history of zoology and comparative anatomy the most comprehensive biological work since Linnaeus. “Cuvier’s valuable work represented the fruits of a lifetime’s study of living and fossil animals. In his day Cuvier exerted an enormous influence on science. He played a leading part in the development of the science of palaeontology and stimulated the study of comparative anatomy†G&M. <br /> <br /> “It is in his classification of the animal kingdom into four main groups Vertebrata Mollusca Articulata and Radiata that he is so notably succeeded in giving a lead that has been followed by all his successors. . .Cuvier was the first to apply analyses and comparison to the entire animal kingdom. He also saw that this homogeneity in an individual should enable a competent naturalist to reconstruct a complete animal from any significant part of its anatomy†PMM. G. & C. & H. Carvill unknown
182740972<p><strong>1827 1ed Animal Kingdom Baron Cuvier Class Mammalia Naturalist 52 Color Plates </strong></p><p>"<em>The Animal Kingdom</em>" originally by Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Baron Cuvier is a comprehensive zoology work translated and expanded by British naturalist Edward Griffith. This collection focuses on the classification of animals particularly vertebrates and provides a detailed analysis of their anatomy and organization. Upon translation Griffith added descriptions alongside commissioning a myriad of hand-colored illustrations to make the book more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.</p><p>This first edition of the fourth volume from "<em>The Animal Kingdom</em>" collection as well as fourth volume of the section entitled "<em>Class Mammalia</em>" includes 52 color plates depicting lama alpacas elk deer antelope ibex goats sheep buffalo bison oxen and dolphins!</p><p>Item number: #40972</p><p>Price: $499</p><p>CUVIER Baron; GRIFFITH Edward Editor; Transl.; SMITH Major Charles Hamilton; PIDGEON Edward</p><p><strong><em>The Animal Kingdom. The Class Mammalia Arranged by the Baron Cuvier with Specific Descriptions by Edward Griffith Major Charles Hamilton Smith and Edward Pidgeon. Volume the Fourth.</em></strong></p><p>London: Geo. B. Whittaker 1827. First English edition.</p><p><u>Details</u>: </p><p><!-- if !supportLists-->· <!--endif-->Collation: Complete; Volume IV</p><p><!-- if !supportLists-->o <!--endif-->6 498 2</p><p><!-- if !supportLists-->o <!--endif--><strong>52 colored plates</strong></p><p><!-- if !supportLists-->· <!--endif-->References: Lowndes 575; Merz 133; Waggoner <em>Georges Cuvier</em></p><p><!-- if !supportLists-->· <!--endif-->Language: English</p><p><!-- if !supportLists-->· <!--endif-->Binding: Leather; tight and secure</p><p><!-- if !supportLists-->· <!--endif-->Size: ~10in X 6.25in 25cm x 16cm</p><p>Our Guarantee:</p><p>Very Fast. Very Safe. Free Shipping Worldwide.</p><p>Customer satisfaction is our priority! Notify us with 7 days of receiving and we will offer a full refund without reservation!</p><p>40972</p><p>Photos available upno request. </p> Geo. B. Whittaker hardcover
183158343New York: G. & C. & H. Carvill 1831. First American Edition. First printing. Octavo 23cm. Full sprinkled sheep titled on brown leather spine labels top edges stained grey all edges sprinkled; plain endpapers; vol. 1: xxxii4482pp; vol. 2: iiv-xvi4651pp; vol. 3: xx5751pp; vol. 4: xii 5451pp; 20 black and white engravings. Multiple nineteenth- and twentieth-century ownership marks to front endpapers. A sound set scuffed but straight some joints cracking but still holding firm lacking two of four spine labels internally browned and foxed: around Very Good. <br /> <br /> Cuvier's work "laid the foundations of comparative anatomy": "in his classification of the animal kingdom into four main groups Vertebrata Mollusca Articulata and Radiata" he gave "a lead that has been followed by all his successors" Printing and the Mind of Man 276. His friend Pierre André Latreille assisted with the section on arthropods. AMERICAN IMPRINTS 6757. For the first edition see GARRISON-MORTON 327. G. & C. & H. Carvill unknown
1802003258London: T.N. Longman & O. Rees 1802. Ink shelf numbers on spines; bookplates; several ink stamps; tears in two tables partly repaired with archival tape; lacking half-titles. First Edition in English. Buckram. Good. T.N. Longman & O. Rees Hardcover
181869220Kirk & Mercein 1818. Hardcover. Collectable very good. Original 1818 publication and printing. Rebound in green marbled boards and tan spine. Published by Kirk & Mercein 413pp 3 pages of plates. CONDITION: Cover almost like new name in old script on title page and inside front cover otherwise no marks or writing. section of pages with text is moderately tanned light foxing. Very nice condition. We are a small family business selling fine new and pre-owned books online since 1999. We provide professional service and individual attention to your order daily shipments and sturdy packaging. Kirk & Mercein, hardcover
186118429Paris: Firmin Didot Frères 1861. LATER EDITION. Contemporary gilt green morocco-backed embossed green cloth. A fine set. Later edition of this important chronological collection of biographies in praise of French scientists. Composed by the secretary of the Academy of Sciences these festschrifts were read aloud during public sessions. The speeches address such famed scholars as Pierre Lassus Antoine-François de Fourcroy Henri Cavendish Nicolas Desmarets and André Thouin. The first volume covers the years 1800-1813 the second 1815-1826 and the third 1827-1832. Firmin Didot Frères unknown
1834240474London: G. Henderson 1834-1837 . New Edition. Hardcover. fair . Thick octavos; contemporary half leather marbled boards joints weak or splitting; offered "as is" with all faults <br />; <br />v.1: many leaves waterstained; leaf 55/56 chipped and detached <br />v.2: title-page contents leaf at least on internal plate are waterstained <br /> <br />v.4: <br />Notary public emboss on endpapers of George Barnham <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Inked name of John Williams in 1847. <br/><br/>This new translation uses Cuvier's revised French text created through 12 additional years creating "essentially a new and distinct work from the number of alterations and improvements which have been incorporated with it. with the value of the information derived by him from the vast number of faithfully executed figures in Natural History which were supplied by recent travellers." - Introduction. Freeman BRITISH NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS 892.2: 7 portraits 743 plates mostly colored . Vol. 1 opens with a Biographical Sketch of John James Audubon whose "Birds of North America which surpasses all others in magnificence was unknown to me till after the whole of that part which treats of birds was printed." Preface to the 2d edition. Nissen ZBI 1016 calls for 789 plates . G. Henderson hardcover
183244684London: Whittaker Treacher and Co 1832. First edition in English 2 volumes in 3 4to 137 engraved plates 4 hand colored; slight spotting and staining extremities a little scuffed else an about fine set in contemporary 1/2 green morocco handsomely gilt. Volumes XIV and XV of the complete work. Whittaker, Treacher and Co unknown
183211194Paris: Académie royale des sciences de l'Institut de France 1832. First Edition Thus. Original Wraps. Near Fine. First Edition Thus. Original Wraps. One of the last Eloges he wrote. Scarce generally very scarce as found here completely unsophisticated. "Davy's widow Jane Davy began the biographical process just over a month after his death in Geneva on 29 May 1829 when she set about collecting materials for her husband's biography initially for the éloge to be delivered by Georges Cuvier 1769-1832 to the Académie Royale des Sciences in Paris. In November 1819 Davy had been elected one of the eight foreign associates of the Académie the supreme accolade for a European man of science. That Jane Davy chose to concentrate on the Académie rather than the Royal Society of London of which Davy had been President between 1820 and 1827 suggests both the influence of her sense of European identity as well as some ill will on her part towards the Society." James Frank A.J.L. Constructing Humphry Davy's Biographical Image. Light toning fading to wrappers and rubbing else tight bright and clean. Burgundy paper wrapper white paper label black ink lettering uncut. 4to. 37pp. xxxvii. In French. Académie royale des sciences de l'Institut de France unknown
18481346834Edinburgh and London: A. Fullarton and Co c. 1848. Hardcover. Octavo Two Volumes. In Very Good condition. Bound in contemporary three-quarter dark green leather and marbled paper boards. Boards show some shelf wear and soiling bumping to corners and light chipping to marbled paper on cover edges. Splitting to leather along joints on both volumes and mild wear to spines of both. Text block has mild age-toning to pages throughout and three instances of damage from stored newsprint to Vol. II. All seventy-two hand-colored illustrated plates present as called for. Both frontispieces present. CX Consignment. Shelved in Case 10.<br /> <br /> <br> <br> CONTENTS: Vol. I. 536 pages -- Vol. II. 541 pages. 1346834. Shelved Dupont Bookstore. A. Fullarton and Co hardcover
1828221328Paris "au jardin du Roi 1828. In ink on reccto on single folded sheet; with conjugate blank. 1 vols. 8vo. Bookseller's small printed slip affixed to lower left split at fold neatly repaired. In ink on reccto on single folded sheet; with conjugate blank. 1 vols. 8vo. Cuvier the great naturalist and Lutheran who managed to reconcile his beliefs in the Bible with his scientific findings. His work was extremely popular with Christian evangelists in the English-speaking world. This fine letter demonstrates his committment to his religion:<br /> <br /> "L'esperance de pouvoir être utile aux protestants dans les fonctions qui viennent de m'être confiées est le seul motif qui me les ait fait accepter. Je serai charmé de m'entretenir avec Messieurs du consistoire sur ce que votre communion peut avoir à désirer. Je regrette seulement d'avoir à leur proposer un voyage aussi long que celui du jardin du Roi mais c'est le seul endroit ou je puisse les recevoir commodement."<br /> <br /> English translation: "My only motive for accepting the duties which have just been conferred on me is the hope that I can be of some use to protestants. I'll be happy to speak with the gentlemen of the Consistory on whatever subject your communion wants. I only regret that I have to propose such a long voyage as that of the Jardin du Roi . unknown
183774593G. Hendserson London 1837. hardback. very good condition rebound in brown cloth 2 volumes of text in one volume and 2 volumes of plates oin the other volume. no dust jackets. shipping via USPS G. Hendserson, London hardcover
182740223Paris 1827. <p>Cuvier Georges 1769-1832. Letter signed to Samuel H. Christie 1784-1865. Paris 29 October 1827. 1 sheet on letterhead of the Académie Royale des Sciences. 222 x 169 mm. Trimmed at head affecting printed letterhead but not the manuscript text. Very good.</p> <p>From the great French naturalist and zoologist Baron Cuvier whose work helped to establish the modern sciences of paleontology and comparative anatomy to British mathematician and physicist Samuel Hunter Christie who made important contributions to the study of magnetism. Cuvier was perpetual secretary of the Académie des sciences and his letter to Christie acknowledging Christie's donation of several of his papers on magnetism to the Académie is written in that capacity. "L'Académie Monsieur a reçu les ouvrages que vous avez bien voulu lui adresser extraits des transactions philosophiques . . . J'ai l'honneur de vous offrir les remerciemens de l'Académie et de vous témoigner en son nom tout le prix qu'elle attache à ces publications . . ." The Academy Sir received the books that you kindly send him excerpts from Philosophical Transactions. . . I am pleased to offer the thanks of the Academy and to express to you on its behalf of all the value it attaches to these publications . . . </p> . unknown
181720421Paris:: Chez Deterville 1817. First edition. contemporary quarter sheep gilt and marbled boards. Old stamped ownership signature on each front free endpaper; some light rubbing to the bindings. A very attractive set. 8vo. 15 engraved plates. PMM 276. Half-titles present. Chez Deterville, hardcover
18461948<p>Paris: Crochard et Cie 1846. Second expanded edition.</p><p><strong>PIONEERING ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SCIENCE OF COMPARATIVE ANATOMY.</strong></p><p>Eight volumes in 9 bindings 8 1/2 inches tall Vol. 4 is in 2 parts. Green quarter leather binding with gilt titles and compartments marbled paper covered boards patterned endpapers bookplate of NSR Maluf to each volume Vol. I i-xxxiii lithographic facsimile of letter from Cuvier 587 pp 1; Vol. II i-viii 726 pp; Vol. III 4 i-iv 760 pp; Vol. IV pt 1 i-xxvii 618 pp 4; Vol. IV pt 2 i-iv 691 pp 1; Vol. V i-viii 503 pp folding table; Vol. VI i-vii 557 pp 1 folding table; Vol. VII i-vii 1 656 pp; Vol. VIII i-xii. 848 pp. Covers corners spine ends worn light browning to pages the first blank and usually the half title of each volume have top edge corners clipped presumably to remove a signature not affecting text. Bindings tight pages unmarked very good in custom archival mylar covers. <strong>CONTENTS:</strong> Vol. I contains the principal discussion of Cuvier's famous theory of the correlation of parts- the functional relationship of each bodily organ to every other organ. Also considered are the organs of movement of vertebrate animals; Vol. II addresses the organs of movement of invertebrate animals and the osteology of the head; Vol. III considers the nervous system and sense organs; Vol. IV reviews the organs of mastication salivation and swallowing in vertebrate animals; Vol. V reviews the feeding organs of invertebrate animals; Vol. VI explores the nutritive fluid its reservoirs and the organs that set it in motion in the four types of the animal kingdom; Volume 7 the description of the organs of elaboration and purification of the nutritive fluid through respiration and urinary secretion; and Volume 8 the organs of generation and secretions the swim bladder of the fish and the organs of vocalization.</p><p><strong>GEORGES CUVIER </strong>1769 – 1832 was a French naturalist and zoologist sometimes referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuvier was a major figure in natural sciences research in the early 19th century and was instrumental in establishing the fields of comparative anatomy and paleontology through his work in comparing living animals with fossils. He expanded Linnaean taxonomy by grouping classes into phyla and incorporating both fossils and living species into the classification. He laid the foundations for a method of analysis and comparison applied to the entire animal kingdom and a new branch of natural history was born thanks to his scientific collaboration with Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. This was based on the theory that anatomical and physiological characteristics of animals are molded by their environment. He established four major families: vertebrates mollusks arthropods and radiates. He was the first to apply the concept of an ecosystem viewing it as a vast network in which species interact with one another.</p><p><strong>GARRISON-MORTON </strong>No. 311 "Cuvier played a leading part in the development of paleontology and stimulated the study of comparative anatomy. He ranks with von Baer as one of the founders of modern morphology. The posthumous second edition offered here revised and expanded by Georges Cuvier's younger brother Georges-Frédéric Cuvier to 8 vols. appeared from 1835-1846."</p> Crochard et Cie hardcover
1834deckert33736bc5G. Henderson 1834-1837. Hardcover. Good. 3/4 leather boards with marble maroon and gold title labels on spine 4 volumes of text and 4 volumes and color amazing amount of plates book showing wear about edges but all tight pages all vg G. Henderson hardcover
182918430Paris: Déterville and Crochard 1829. SECOND EDITION. With 20 full-page etched plates. Contemporary gilt green sheep-backed marbled boards. Ownership stamps of J.E. van der Dussen. A fine set. Second edition enlarged of this landmark in the history of zoology and comparative anatomy the most comprehensive biological work since Linnaeus. “Cuvier’s valuable work represented the fruits of a lifetime’s study of living and fossil animals. In his day Cuvier exerted an enormous influence on science. He played a leading part in the development of the science of palaeontology and stimulated the study of comparative anatomy†G&M. <br /> “It is in his classification of the animal kingdom into four main groups Vertebrata Mollusca Articulata and Radiata that he is so notably succeeded in giving a lead that has been followed by all his successors. . .Cuvier was the first to apply analyses and comparison to the entire animal kingdom. He also saw that this homogeneity in an individual should enable a competent naturalist to reconstruct a complete animal from any significant part of its anatomy†PMM.<br /> See PMM 276; Garrison-Morton 327; Dibner 195. Déterville and Crochard unknown
180547764Paris: De L'Imprimerie Impériale 1805. First complete French edition. Hardcover. vg- to vg. Quartos. Vol.1: xcvii 528pp 31pp. Vol.2: 460pp 84pp. Black leather over dark blue marbled paper boards. Gilt lettering and ruling on the spines. The first full French translation of compiled research from the Asiatic Society of Bengal originally published in English as the periodical journal "Asiatick Researches" from 1788- 1839. <br /> <br /> The text throughout contains a vast array of information in various realms of scientific historical philosophical religious and/or cultural topics from different authors. Volume 1 contains a total of 33 plates of copperplate engravings including 2 fold-out while volume 2 contains 11 plates plus 2 folding tables one one which a table of Persian grammatical influence on North India printed on blue-toned Arches papers measuring 22 1/4 x 28". Some of these plates contain illustrations while others contain geometric figures mathematical calculations astrological charts and samples of texts in various Asian scripts including Sanskrit Arabic and Chinese. In addition to the numbered plates there are many other un-numbered examples in-text as well as statistical tables some full page. The text throughout is accompanied by copious scholarly footnotes. Of special note is a sections of beautifully rendered plates containing images of various Hindu deities. Also includes a large fold out steel-plate engraved Hindu Zodiac with 27 images. The final section of volume one contains corrections and additions followed by tables of meteorological data also included in vol.2. <br /> <br /> This French edition notably has been revised and supplemented with various additional notes from a number of distinguished French scholars and scientists of the era including zoologist Georges Cuvier 1769 – 1832 mathematician and astronomer Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre 1749 – 1822 naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck 1744 -1829 and entomologist Guillaume-Antoine Olivier 1756-1814. <br /> <br /> Text in French.<br /> <br /> Bindings with some light rubbing and/or bumping to extremities. Light scratches to the covers. Interiors with minor sporadic foxing and/or water stains to the margins of a few pages throughout although in general the pages are surprisingly clean and vibrant. Book blocks quite tight. Bindings in very good- interiors in very good condition overall. About the society:<br /> The "The Asiatic Society of Bengal" now simply known as the Asiatic Society was founded in Calcutta in 1784 by British scholar philologist and civil civil Sir William Jones 1746-1794 in the early years of the British Raj. Its purpose as set forth was the furthering of Oriental research of all kinds as well as the collection of manuscripts and other relevant materials. It began publishing the work and research of its members all distinguished scholars in its periodical journal "Asiatick Researches". A museum set up to house and display its holdings as well as act as a hub or research was established in 1814. At first only Europeans could become members but starting in 1829 Indian were allowed to join as well. De L'Imprimerie Impériale hardcover
1837099074L. Henderson 1837. First of This Edition. Half Leather. Very Good. 8 vols. with 576 colored plates - 4 vols. of text and 4 vols. of plates. Binding appears to have been done c. 1920's. All the title pages show moderate foxing. L. Henderson hardcover
1817elala537Paris: Deterville 1817. 1817. 4 Volumes. 8vo. pp. xxxvii 540; xviii 532; xxix 653; viii 255. with half-titles. 15 engraved plates by Pierron after Laurillard. 10 folding engraved plates from another work bound in at end. contemporary quarter sheep gilt backs spines somewhat worn several joints cracked scattered foxing. bookplate 1825 ownership entry 1834 & rubberstamp on title of A.Chambion on titles. First Edition of Cuviers most comprehensive work which embodied the whole of his previous researches on the structure of living and fossil animals and laid the foundations of modern comparative anatomy. Here Cuvier introduced his famous classification system according to which the animal kingdom is divided into four main groups vertebrata mollusca articulata insects lobsters and radiata all remaining types. "This type theory is Cuviers greatest contribution in the sphere of systematization and represents although in a somewhat modified form the basis of all subsequent animal classification." Nordenskiöld Opposing the current view that the structure of an animal determined its functions and habits Cuvier maintained that an animals structure was due to its functions and habits. Throughj the exact study of the anatomy of living and fossil species he could reconstruct extinct forms from a few surviving bones. At the end of Volume IV pp. 95-170 is an important annotated bibliography of zoological literature. Brit. Museum Cat. of Natural History I 410. Brunet II 457 incorrectly citing date 1816. Casey Wood 307. Dibner Heralds of Science 195. Nissen 1013. Nordenskiöld History of Biology pp. 339-41. Printing and the Mind of Man 276. Sparrow Milestones of Science 42 Plate 134 pp. 31-32. Waller 11796. Wellcome II 423 incomplete. cfGarrison & Morton 327. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Paris: Deterville , 1817. Hardcover
1827139121London: Whittaker 1827. First. hardcover. very good. 5 volumes. 196 plates out of 210 with 76 colored by hand. Handsomely bound in contemporary 3/4 green morocco lightly worn some scattered foxing. London: George Whittaker 1827. First English edition. Very good .<br/> <br/> A near fine set with light scattered foxing of this classic zoological book- a standard for the first half of the nineteenth century.<br/> <br/> Whittaker unknown
1812A37982Paris: Chez Deterville 1812. 157 engraved plates some folding including a large folding hand-coloured map. . HB. 4 vols 4to 283x215mm orig. paper covered boards heavily rubbed/worn spines chipped gilt rules and leather title labels to spines; wide margins with edges uncut; some foxing and browning a few short marginal tears; one folding plate damaged - creased and torn with loss to several figures; 6cm tear to inner margin of another large folding plate.Pagination: Vol. I: 8 vi 120 20 viii 278 2 23 1; Vol. II: 4 10 12 21 1 33 1 30 24 20 6 140 43 1 20 4; Vol. III: 4 3 1 8 174 21 1 14 75 1 20 7 1 8 2 16 21 1 4 20; Vol. IV: 7 1 5 3 66 38 10 2 72 18 20 30 9 1 27 1 43 1 40 2 59 1 26 38 32 37 1 16. Scarce first edition of a work which laid the foundation of vertebrate paleontology Horblit One Hundred Books 20b. The separately paginated memoirs many of which first appeared in 'Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris' are here reissued in revised form prefaced by the important 'Discours preliminaire'. Georges Cuvier 1769-1832 was an outstanding French naturalist who helped to found the fields of vertebrate paleontology and comparative anatomy. He was professor of comparative anatomy at the Mus�um d�Histoire Naturelle Paris. As Martin J. S. Rudwick states 'It is difficult to overestimate the huge impact of Cuvier on zoology paleontology and geology.' Significant and highly influential results of Cuvier's palaeontological and geological research were presented in a series of essays published in these four volumes Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles de quadrupe`ds Paris 1812. Rudwick notes that Cuvier �called himself �a new species of antiquarian� who was using fossil bones instead of human artifacts as historical evidence. He therefore argued that naturalists such as himself could and should aspire to �burst the limits of time� � just as astronomers such as Pierre-Simon de Laplace to whom he dedicated his Ossemens fossiles had already �burst the limits of space". Vol. 1 includes Discours pr�liminaire in which Cuvier introduced the idea of geological �revolutions� to explain mass extinctions of prehistoric species. Other papers include an essay on an Egyptian ibis mummy brought from Thebes during Napoleon's campaign in Egypt; and with Alexandre Brogniart 1770-1847 an updated version of Cuvier's important stratigraphical memoir of 1810 Essai sur la G�ographie Min�ralogique des Environs de Paris which contributed to the concept of faunal succession in rock strata of different periods. In Vol. 2 Cuvier describes species of pachyderms found in recent alluvial deposits including elephants mastodons rhinoceros hippopotamus and tapir. In Vol. 3 Cuvier's recalls the challenges of reconstruing fossils of different species. Vol. 4 concerns fossil horses and pigs bears hyenas and big cats and concludes by describing fossil sloths crocodiles turtles and marine dinosaurs.Nissen ZBI 1011; BMNH Cat. I p. 409. Chez Deterville hardcover