A Paris, de l’Imprimerie de F. Dufart, An VIII [1799/1800] – 1808.
127 volumes 8vo. Calf, gilt dentelle framing the covers, decorated flats spines. Contemporary binding signed by P. Meslant.
196 x 121 mm.
The great 18th century “Natural History” by Buffon adorned with 1 166 full-page copper engravings including 2 portraits, 8 maps, 20 tables, and 1,136 engravings, here in rare double state on thick Holland paper, in black and facing, hand-colored at the time.
Quérard. La France littéraire, I, 558; Nissen. Zoology, 682; Cohen, Livres illustrés du XVIIIe siècle, 194.
It was one of the most ambitious and complete works of scientific literature.
Buffon, appointed intendant of the King’s Garden in August 1730, had at that moment conceived the project of making the study of natural history amiable and accessible to all, which until then had only known dry teachings. His vast project aimed to encompass all the productions of nature by classifying and explaining them methodically.
The success of the enterprise was immense, resounding, and lasting.
“Never had human thought reached such a height, nor genius such boldness. One was not accustomed to hearing science speak such beautiful language. Hence Buffon’s place was marked from that day at the French Academy.”
“Buffon’s text dedicated to the “Epochs of Nature,” describing the formation of continents, takes its place among the great pages of French literature.”
It was the first attempt at amiable and refined popularization of the study of natural history, which led to a discovery and an enthusiasm from the cultivated public and a desire for protection of this science by sovereigns and greats. However, there are hardly any known copies with the double state of the engravings.
This edition was published by Sonnini de Manoncourt, his former assistant, with the collaboration of several naturalists and entomologists.
It is illustrated with 2 portraits, 8 maps, and 1 136 copper engravings, some folded. Nissen announces only 1 100 plates, 36 less than in the present copy.
Théorie de la Terre (3 vol., 5 p1., 1 portrait and 3 cartes) ; Époques de la Nature (1 vol., 3 pl. and one map) ; Histoires des minéraux (12 vol., 20 pl. and 4 maps), des animaux (1 vol., 7 pl.), de l’homme (4 vol., 13 pl.), des quadrupèdes (13 vol., 231 pl.), des singes (2 vol., 79 pl.), des oiseaux (28 vol., 257 pl.), des poissons (13 vol., 80 pl. and one portrait), des cétacées (1 vol., 5 pl.), des mollusques (6 vol., 72 pl.), des reptiles (8 vol., 100 pl.), des crustacés et des insectes (14 vol., 113 pl.) et des plantes (18 vol., 151 pl.), tables (3 vol.).
One of the rare copies containing a second version of each plate finely watercolored at the time. The colors have remained remarkably fresh.
