Buffon's Natural History. Containing a Theory of the Earth, a General History of Man, of the Brute Creations, and of Vegetables, Minerals . From the French. With Notes by the Translator. In Ten Volumes. [together with] Natural History of Birds, Fish, Insects, and Reptiles. In Six Volumes.

16 Volumes. 8vo (actually a small 4to.), the volumes measure just under 5 x 8 inches. 19th century tree-calf, spines designed in gilt, lettered in gilt on panels of black. A few slightly cracked hinges and modest shelf wear, a very nice clean set. This is a uniform binding of two separate sets; the first set, of ten volumes, has the legend "Barr's Buffon" at the head of the title page. The second set, of six volumes, is issued anonymously. In all, 136 plates, most coloured by hand. Internally very fresh, almost no foxing to be seen. Typically, the plates are not in the exact order given in the individual volumes. In this case, the final (supplement) volume contains several plates which are listed in earlier volumes, but not present there. One plate from Volume 11 (a Parrot?) appears never to have been bound-in. In all a clean and attractive set of Buffon, quite handsome.