Buffon Comte, First Edition (43 results)

12mo. Vol. I. 290 pp. Frontispiece illustration. / Vol. II. 298 pp. / Photographic illustrations. Hardcover binding, guld square, purple lettering spine, uverall very dood cundition. (124842) ``. Two Volumes in One.

Condition: New. The first comprehensive accounts of eighteenth-century ornithology, first published between 1770 and 1783 and translated into English in 1793. Series: Cambridge Library Collection - Zoology. Num Pages: 554 pages, 27 b/w illus. BIC Classification: PSAJ. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 216 x 140 x 31. Weight in Grams: 700. . 2010. 1st Edition. paperback. . . . .

Condition: New. The first comprehensive accounts of eighteenth-century ornithology, first published between 1770 and 1783 and translated into English in 1793. Series: Cambridge Library Collection - Zoology. Num Pages: 596 pages, 22 b/w illus. BIC Classification: PSAJ. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 216 x 140 x 34. Weight in Grams: 750. . 2010. 1st Edition. paperback. . . . .

1. Original-Stahlstich auf rückseitig unbedrucktem Büttenblatt, bildliche Darstellung ca. 8,5 x 7 cm, Blattgröße ca. 23,5 x 14 cm, sehr gut erhalten 1100 gr.

13 x 20, 648 pp., 32 planches en couleurs et en N/B, reliure d'édition pleine toile verte illustrée + rhodoïd, très bon état. N° 220 sur 4000 exemplaires numérotés; textes précédés d'une préface à Buffon par Roger Heim, et suivis du Voyage à Montbard par Hérault de Séchelles; illustrations de Sève pour l'édition originale de 1749-1789.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Martinet, Francois-Nicolas (illustrator). 1st Edition. Published by Rizzoli International Publications in 2008, this is the first limited edition Rizzoli printing of Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte De Buffon and Francois-Nicolas Martinet's ALL THE WORLD'S BIRDS: BUFFON'S ILLUSTRATED NATURAL HISTORY GENERAL AND PARTICULAR OF BIRDS selected and introduced by Stephane Schmitt with Cedric Cremiere and a foreword by David Sibley. 670 pages, green cloth binding, gilt lettering, sumptuously illustrated in original slipcase the book and dust jacket are both in very good condition. The book weighs in at nearly 7kg and so worldwide postage will be silly. However only Canada will be excluded from postage regions. No extra postage will be charged to other areas.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardback. Imperial 8vo. pp 140-156, extract from Mmoires de l'Acadmie Royale des Sciences (17 pages, complete as issued). In attractive probably 1930s binding by W. H. Smith & Son Ltd., green cloth, front cover lettered in gilt; tailpiece. Inscribed "1932" on front pastedown. VG indeed. An important paper on forest conservation by the pioneering naturalist, the Comte de Buffon (1707-88), who was also an encyclopediste, cosmologist and mathematician. Very good indeed.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardback. Imperial 8vo. pp 233-46, extract from Mmoires de l'Acadmie Royale des Sciences (14 pages, complete as issued). In attractive ?1930s binding by W. H. Smith & Son Ltd., green cloth, front cover lettered in gilt; tailpiece. Inscribed "1932" on front pastedown. Browning to margins at top and bottom of pages in places. VG. An important paper on forest conservation by the pioneering naturalist, the Comte de Buffon (1707-88), who was also an encyclopediste, cosmologist and mathematician. Very good indeed.

Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. 2 leaves, 96 pp; 97-191, [1] pp; 193-384 pp. Original wrappers. A Near Fine 'set' of the complete Vol. XIV. Weil's paper contains the text of 17 letters exchanged between Buffon and Cramer.

First Edition. Scattered foxing. Provenance; bookplate of the Bibliotheque Guille-Alles, Guernsey. Good copies only in the original aniline calf over marble boards. Raised bands & gilt-cross bands &c. Spine bands worn with loss, panel edges rubbed and dust-toned. Text not affected. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; Physical description; 2 v. ; 24 cm. Subjects; Natural history. Language; French. Portrait frontis illustrated. 4 Kg.

Etat : correct, complet. Frottements, manque à la coiffe de tête, mors intérieur avant presque détaché, faibles traces de mouillure et de pliure sur quelques pages et planches (une planche détachée, deux planches avec une déchirure latérale, une planche manque une partie). Illustrations : vignette de titre gravée et 31 planches gravées (numérotées de 34 à 64) hors texte. Reliure : carton de l'époque. Volumes : 1volume. Format : in-12. Pages : 1 f., 252 pp., 1 f., 11 pp., 1 f. (paginé 261/262, table). Editeur : Paris, Chevalier. Date : 1817. Buffon, La volière de la jeunesse. Ou Cours complet d'étude sur l'histoire naturelle des oiseaux classés selon la méthode de Cuvieravec la manière de les élever, de les nourrir, etc. Suivi d'un traité sur l'art de les empailler. Ouvrage rédigé d'après l'Histoire naturelle de Buffon, où l'on à conservé les morceaux les plus brillans. Orné de planches en taille-douce. Tome 2 (sur 2). Paris, Chevalier 1817. Edition originale. Exemplaire peu commun du deuxième tome de l'édition originale.

First Edition. Scattered foxing. Provenance; bookplate of the Bibliotheque Guille-Alles, Guernsey. Good copies only in the original aniline calf over marble boards. Raised bands & gilt-cross bands &c. Spine bands worn with loss, panel edges rubbed and dust-toned. Text not affected. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; Physical description; 2 v. ; 24 cm. Subjects; Natural history. Language; French. Portrait frontis illustrated. 3 Kg.

First edition thus. 12mo. 2 volumes. v1: [iv], 352 pp. / v2: [iv], 425, [viii] pp. Illustrations. Half cloth marbled boards, gilt embossed lettering & tooling, very good condition. (91356). Édition faite sur le manuscrit, tiré du porte-feuille d'un grand.

First edition hard back binding in publisher's original rebacked half scarlet leather, scarlet cloth sides, the spine divided into five panels, gilt lettered in the second, tools to the others, original re-inforced lemon lining papers, top edge gilt. Quarto. 10¼'' x 7½''. Contains illustrated additional title-page, (xxxiii), [i], 292 pp illustrated by 150 designs by Victor Adam over 38 single-sided plates of engravings, illustrating 150 birds, each plate exquisitely hand-coloured. White paper label to the front free end paper with the name 'A. J. Warnock', ink name above, one gathering slightly proud, two loosely enclosed letters, one typed, one hand written from 'Jacques Delmand' referring to the contents of the book, rubbing to the leather corners, hinges sound and in Very Good. Member of the P.B.F.A. ORNITHOLOGY.

Erste deutschspr. Ausgabe, der vorliegende Band 22 enthält beschreibt Geismelcker und Schwalben. - Nissen IVB 159; Anker 78. Die französische Originalausgabe `Histoire naturelle des oiseaux` erschien 1770-86 in der Imprimerie Royale in 10 Bänden mit 1008 Kupfern, die vorliegende deutsche Ausgabe erschien von 1772-1808 in 35 Bänden u. 2 Ergänzungsbänden mit insges. 1683 Kupfern. 20 x 12 cm. Mit kol., gest. Titelvignette u. 44 alt kolorierten Kupfertafeln. 299 S., 2 Bll., HLdr. d. Zt. mit RüSch., Ecken berieben, Vorderdeckel mit Wurmspuren, im Text tlw. etwas stockfl.

Leder. *** Aus der Erstausgabe der bedeutendsten Naturgeschichte *** (Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc Comte de). Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière. avec la description du cabinet du roi. Band II (von XV). Paris. 1749. [4], 603, [1] S. Mit gestochener TVignette, 2 gestochenen Kopfvignetten und 8 mehrfach gefalteten Kupfertafeln. 4°. Hellbraunes geglättetes Kalbsleder der Zeit mit zwei goldgeprägten Rückenschildern, mit reicher ornamentaler Rückenvergoldung und Rotschnitt. unwesentlich minimal beschabt bzw. bestoßen. des zweiten Bandes der ersten 15-bändigen Reihe des dann in den Jahren 1749 bis 1804 insgesamt in 44 Bänden erschienenen umfassenden Kompendiums zur vergleichenden Naturwissenschaft, in dem Buffon das Fundament der Naturforschung schlechthin legte (1707-1788). Er "war der erste, der das Universum als ein vollständiges Ganzes faßte und in ihm kein Phänomen antraf, das irgendeiner anderen Erklärung als einer rein wissenschaftlichen bedurft hätte" (Carter-Muir 369). Die detaillierten Kupfertafeln zeigen verschiedene Stadien des organischen Zellwachstums sowie spezifische Charakteristika diverser Körperzellen (z.B. "Animaux spermatices du lapin et du chien"). Das letzte Kapitel wird dem menschlichen Körper gewidmet und durch physiognomische Gesichtsstudien ergänzt. Winziges Stempelchen verso Titel, eine Tafel mit kleinem Randeinriss, die Tafel VII und VIII teils etwas stärker fleckig, sonst jedoch sehr sauber und schön erhalten. Bemerkenswert schön gebundenes Exemplar aus der Bibliothek des Grafen Paris zu Wokenstein.

Full-Leather. Condition: Very Good. Jacques de Seve. (illustrator). 1st Edition. Histoire naturelle, generale et particuliere, avec la description du Cabinet du Roi. Tome Seizieme. Historie naturelle des oiseaux. Tome Premier. 4to., contemporary leather binding with gilt-ornamented spine, red and green leather labels, pp. xxiv, [2], 496, with 29 beautiful copper-engraved illustrations of birds (drawn by Jacques de Seve), marbled edges and endpapers. 2 library stamps and 1 library label to foot of spine, minimal cracking, shelfwear to extremities of binding; otherwise very good.

Hardback. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. First Edition Thus. A Fine facsimile by Rizzoli 2008. Original publisher's cloth and slipcase all in Fine condition. Very heavy book please feel free to enquire about shipping etc.

Leather. Condition: Good. Not Stated (illustrator). First edition. The first six volumes only of the first edition of the Comte de Buffon's lavishly illustrated natural history work on birds. In the original French.The first six volumes only of the eighteen volume first edition of this work on birds, part of Buffon's influential 'Histoire Naturelle'.'Histoire Naturelle' is an encyclopaedic work, originally running to 36 volumes by Buffon, being continued by his colleagues, led by Lacepede, after his death.An extensive study of 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.Half titles to volumes I, II and VI.With the inscription of 'Dan. de la Cherois' to the tail of the volume I title page. In full calf bindings, with gilt detailing to back strips. Significant rubbing to joints, and back strip heads and tails. Small losses of leather to volume V and VI back strip tails, with further minor losses to head of volume I and V back strips. Lacking half of volume III title spine label, with partial remnants of only two volume number labels. A touch of worming to head of volume VI front joint. Internally, firmly bound. Inscription to volume I title page tail. Pages bright and generally clean, though a touch age toned due to paper type. Good. book.

fine. Condition: Good. Hardcover book in a Nine volume set , Full leather bindings . The first English edition with 262 fine copper-engraved plates. With Preface , notes and additions by the translator. A Good but worn set. Contents generally clean with only light foxing to contents and plates which are all present. Full leather bindings are rubbed and worn to edges and spines with wear and splits along foredge of spine leather. Title labels are present but again are rubbed and worn. The front cover of Volume 1 is detatched with other volume covers loose but still closely attached by the sewing. Armourial Bookplate of the Rev. M.P. LLoyd to front paste-down of each volume. Contemporary signature to title page of Volume 1. A Good set but with worn covers. Pictures available.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Volume One: Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particuliére, avec la Description du Cabinet du Roi. Tome Premier. A Paris, De l'Imprimerie Royale. MDCCXLIX (1749). First Editions of the 15 Volume set plus the first two Supplements. Complete, collated. The 15 volume set; 578 plates, 2 folding maps, 1 folding table. The 2 supplements; 16 plates , portrait of Buffon. (598 plates and maps). Bound in contemporary full speckled calf. The spines in six gilt stamped compartments with five raised bands. Red letter lettering pieces in the second and third compartments. Wear to boards & corners, some hinges split, but holding well in all cords with the marble paper endpapers unbroken. Occasional foxing and burn marks but the set has remained free of water damage with the paper and plates white and flexible. An unrestored set still in remarkable condition. The volumes measure 25.5 x 20 x 5 cm. Each leaf measures 248 x 195 mm. A heavy set. Additional postage depending on the destination.

Leather. Condition: Very Good. None (illustrator). First edition. Comte de Buffon's important natural history work, these nine volumes focusing solely on the history of minerals, a nice set in the original French. The first edition.Complete in nine volumes.In the original French.Half-titles present to Volumes III to IX.'Histoire Naturelle' is an encylopaedic work, originally running to 36 volumes by Buffon, being continued by his colleagues, led by Lacepede, after his death.These nine volumes focus on minerals, and was the last work published during Buffon's lifetime, the author dying in 1788.The last volume in this set includes 'Traité de l"Aimant'.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.'Histoire Naturelle des Mineraux' was a departure from the rest of Buffon's 'Histoire Naturelle' set, as 'Mineraux' was not illustrated.Buffon collaborated on this series on minerals by Andre Thouin, Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond, and Louis Bernard Guyton de Morveau.Stamp of 'St. Hugh's, Parkminster', to the title pages. St Hugh's Charterhouse is the only post-reformation Carthusian monastery in the U.K., a Gothic Revival structure founded in 1873. In the original calf binding. Externally, generally smart. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spines and to the extremities, a very small amount of loss to the head of the spine of Volume I, and lifting to the head of the spines of Volumes VII and IX. A little light rubbing to the joints, heavier rubbing to the front board of Volume II. Heavier rubbing with a small amount of loss to the tail of the rear board of Volume V. A small amount of loss of leather to the tail of the front board of Volume VII. Second spine label of Volume VIII is lifting. Heavier rubbing to the front board of Volume IX. A few light marks to the boards, including a larger mark to the rear board of Volume I, to the front board of Volume III, and to the rear board of Volume IV. Two small worm holes to the front joint and one to the rear joint of Volume III. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Stamp to the title pages. First and last few pages of Volume IV are age-toned. Very Good. book.

Leather. Condition: Very Good. Not Stated (illustrator). First edition. 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. book.

Couverture rigide. A. Eymery | Paris 1825 -1828 | 13.50 x 21 cm, longueur totale de la série 103 cm | 26 volumes reliés | Edition complète en 25 tomes illustrée de 245 planches, dont le portrait de l'auteur par Deveria en frontispice, 216 planches en couleurs coloriées à la main (certaines avec des rehauts d'or) dont 91 pour les mammifères, 126 pour les oiseaux, 13 en noir et 4 cartes géographiques repliées. Rare exemplaire complet du volumes supplémentaire paru en 1828 avec 12 planches en couleurs. Reliure en plein veau glacé. Dos à nerfs orné de 3 fers restauration à froid mosaïqué de points d'or, roulettes en queue et tête, sur les nerfs et formant les caissons. 2 pièces de titre en veau blond. Grand médaillon à froid sur les plats et frise d'encadrement à froid. Dos comportant des traces de décoloration, petits manques ou minuscules manques de fragments à 8 coiffes de tête (9, 11, 23, 1, 5, 24.) avec au tome 26, une déchirure au mors en coiffe supérieure, idem en queue. Papier relativement frais avec quelques rousseurs éparses. La plupart des planches sont en parfait état de fraîcheur, certaines brunies avec quelques rousseurs. Au tome 3, 4, 5 et 10, quelques feuillets brunis et brunissures. Une déchirure au t.11 p. 63, et des feuillets brunis. Dos avec des traces de décoloration. Quelques rousseurs éparses. Ex-libris Comte Chevreau d'Entraigues. La plupart des planches en couleurs sont l'oeuvre de Gabriel Prêtre, le peintre du museum d'histoire naturelle et de la ménagerie de l'impératrice Joséphine. Ces oeuvres complètes sont enrichies d'une vue générale des progrès de plusieurs branches des sciences naturelles mises en ordre par le Comte de Lacépède, augmentées d'un volume contenant le précis des merveilles de la nature découvertes depuis Buffon jusqu'à nos jours. | [ENGLISH DESCRIPTION FOLLOWS] Complete edition in 25 volumes illustrated with 245 plates, including the author's portrait by Deveria as frontispiece, 216 hand-colored plates (some with gold highlights) including 91 for mammals, 126 for birds, 13 in black and 4 folding geographical maps. Rare copy complete with the supplementary volume published in 1828 with 12 colored plates. Full glazed calf binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with 3 cold-stamped Restoration tools inlaid with gold dots, roulettes at head and tail, on the bands and forming compartments. 2 title-labels in blonde calf. Large cold-stamped medallion on covers and cold-stamped frame border. Spine showing traces of discoloration, small lacks or minute fragment losses to 8 headcaps (volumes 9, 11, 23, 1, 5, 24.) with volume 26 having a tear to the joint at the upper headcap, same at tail. Paper relatively fresh with some scattered foxing. Most plates are in perfect fresh condition, some browned with some foxing. In volumes 3, 4, 5 and 10, some leaves browned and browning. One tear in vol.11 p. 63, and browned leaves. Spine with traces of discoloration. Some scattered foxing. Bookplate of Comte Chevreau d'Enraigues. Most of the colored plates are the work of Gabriel Prêtre, painter of the natural history museum and Empress Joséphine's menagerie. These complete works are expanded with a general view of the progress of several branches of natural sciences arranged by Comte de Lacépède, augmented with a volume containing a summary of nature's marvels discovered from Buffon to our day. *.

Couverture rigide. Chez 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 | Edition originale de la traduction française de ces deux textes de Stephen Hales. La traduction du premier ouvrage, originellement intituléVegetable Staticks paru en 1727, est le premier texte publié par Buffon. La traduction du second du livre, paru à l'origine sous le titre d'Haemastaticksen 1733, est l'oeuvre de François Boissier de Sauvages. Notre exemplaire est bien complet de ses 20 figures gravées sur 10 planches dépliantes pour le premier texte et de sa planche dépliante in-fine pour le second. Reliure de l'époque en pleine basane blonde mouchetée, dos à cinq nerfs richement orné de caissons, roulettes et fleurons dorés ainsi que d'une pièce de titre de maroquin havane, gardes et contreplats de papier à la cuve, toutes tranches mouchetées de rouge. Coiffe de tête et deux coins habilement restaurés. Quelques feuillets un peu brunis. Rares éditions originales françaises de ces deux texte d'Hales, fondateur de la physiologie expérimentale moderne. LaStatique des végétauxdécrit cent vingt-quatre expériences sur la physiologie des plantes. Buffon la fait précéder d'une importante «préface du traducteur» dans laquelle il fait l'éloge non seulement de Hales («Je ne connais rien de mieux dans son genre, et le genre par lui-même est excellent.») mais surtout de l'expérience scientifique, emblème de l'émergence de la science moderne: «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 [.] » Les planches, dont l'exécution est d'une très grande finesse, montrent les machines inventées (notamment sa fameuse cuve à eau) et procédés utilisés par Hales pour mettre en évidence la circulation de la sève et la production de gaz des végétaux qu'il étudie. Le second traité s'intéresse quant à lui, dans la lignée des recherches de William Harvey et Marcello Malpighi, à la circulation sanguine. C'est dans cet ouvrage qu'Hales relate son expérience de la pression artérielle grâce à l'une de ses inventions, ancêtre du tensiomètre. | [ENGLISH DESCRIPTION FOLLOWS] 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, St xviij (7 p.) 408 pp. (2 p.) et xxii ; 348 pp.

FIRST EDITION. 34 vols. 4to. (25.25 x 19.5 cm). Uniformly bound in contemporary marbled calf, spines richly gilt in compartments with fleur-de-lis motifs, titles to two dark red morocco labels gilt, raised bands, royal arms of King Louis XV stamped in gilt to upper and lower covers, his monogram gilt to each spine panel, triple fillet to upper and lower covers gilt, inner dentelles gilt, original red ribbon page markers, red speckled edges, marbled endpapers. Complete with 980 full-page engraved plates (of which 9 are folding), including frontispiece of Buffon, 4 folding maps, and 1 folding chart. Numerous inter-textual tables, engravings, and cul-de-lampes throughout. In the Histoire Naturelle plate 14 is misbound in the third volume, plates 5 and 6 are swapped in the fifth volume, plates 13 and 14 are swapped in the tenth volume, and two plates are numbered 46 in the twelfth volume (one of which is entitled 46 bis). In the Supplément two plates are numbered 18 in the third volume (one of which is entitled 18 bis), and plate 41 is misbound in the sixth volume. Ex libris Robinet Fils with his armorial bookplate variably to front and back pastedowns, sometimes removed, and his old ownership stamp variably to front and back endpapers. A very handsome set. THE COMPLETE RUN OF VOLUMES PUBLISHED AT THE IMPRIMERIE ROYALE FOR WHICH BUFFON WAS EDITOR. This set, which comprises 24 volumes of the Histoire Naturelle, 6 volumes of the Supplément, and 4 volumes of the Mineraux, represents the complete run of volumes published at the Imprimerie Royale and for which Buffon acted as editor. Two additional volumes sometimes present are lacking here. They are the fifth and final volume of the Mineraux otherwise known as the Traité de l'aimant, published at the Impremerie des Batiments du Roi (rather than the Impremerie Royale) in 1788, and the seventh and final volume of the Supplément, published in 1789 after Buffon's death. After Buffon's death work was carried on by Bernard Germain de Lacépède, who published 8 further volumes on egg-laying quadrupeds, snakes, fishes, and cetaceans between 1788 and 1804. The last set to pass through our hands included these 10 additional volumes bound slightly differently - due to the publishing span - to the 34 original volumes such as those offered here. Buffon "was the first to present the universe as one complete whole and to find no phenomenon calling for any but a purely scientific explanation" (PMM). "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. He envisioned the nature of science and understood the roles of paleontology, zoological geography, and animal psychology. He realised both the necessity of transformism and its difficulties" (DSB). The "most celebrated treatise on animals ever produced" (Dinber), also represents the birth of evolutionary theory. "Georges Buffon set forth his general views on species classification in the first volume of his Histoire Naturelle. Buffon objected to the so-called 'artificial' classifications of Andrea Cesalpino and Carolus Linnaeus, stating that in nature the chain of life has small gradations from one type to another and that the discontinuous categories are all artificially constructed by mankind. Buffon suggested that all organic species may have descended from a small number of primordial types; this is an evolution predominantly from more perfect to less perfect forms" (Parkinson).

Hardcover (Full Leather). Condition: Very Good. First Edition. 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. 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.

First edition thus. 4to. 4 volumes. v1: 782 pp. Frontispiece portrait, 4 plates. / v2: 775 pp. / v3: 723 pp. 12 plates. v4: 784 pp. 29 plates. Hand-colored plates with tissue guards. Leather backed marbled boards, gilt lettering, very good set. (93375). Covers detached v4.

Half-Leather W/ Marble Boards. Condition: Good For Age. No Jacket. Various (illustrator). First Edition. Due to age and condition of leather, these books will need to be handled with extreme care. Years are 1829-1832. 260 hand-colored plates, all colors are magnificent and VIVID. The supplements have arguably the best plate coloring of the 29 volumes (27 main volumes plus 2 supplemental volumes). All have been professionally rebound, all have complete spines, save for an inch and a half missing on the first volumes spine, a small chunk on the second volume, and a small chunk on the 20th volume. Gilt tooling on spines, six bands. Volumes are: 1 & 2 Theorie de La Terre, 3 & 4 Mineraux, 5 Epoques de La Nature, 6 - 9 Mineraux, 10 Vegetaux & Animaux, 11 - 13 Animaux, 14 - 18 Mammiferes, 19 - 26 Oiseaux, 27 Tables des Matieres, Supplement Volume 1 Mammiferes, Supplement Volume 2 Oiseaux. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Set.

Couverture rigide. De l' imprimerie des Bâtiments du roi | à Paris 1788 | 20 x 25.50 cm | relié | Édition originale de ce traité, paru à la suite des quatre tomes dont les dates éditoriales se succèdent de 1782 pour le premier volume à 1788 pour le dernier, en l'occurrence le Traité de l'aimant, qui de ce fait manque souvent à la série. Reliure en plein maroquin rouge d'époque. Dos à nerfs richement orné. Pièces de titre et de tomaison en maroquin noir. Triple filet d'encadrement sur les plats. Roulette sur les coupes et intérieure. tranches dorées. Papier dominoté à étoiles dorées. Coins frottés. Très bel exemplaire, parfaitement relié dans une reliure de maître, très frais. Le Traité de l'aimant est le dernier ouvrage publié du vivant de l'auteur et qui vient clore l'Histoire naturelle dont l'édition s'est étalée sur cinquante ans, et qui eut un succès comparable à l'Encyclopédie de Diderot et d'Alembert. Le traité proprement dit est suivi de nombreuses tables d'observations sur l'inclinaison de l'aiguille aimantée (avec les noms des voyageurs et navigateurs), dans l'hémisphère austral et boréal, suivant des latitudes différentes. Le traité débute par un exposé des forces magnétiques et électriques. | [ENGLISH DESCRIPTION FOLLOWS] First edition of this treatise, published following the four volumes whose editorial dates run from 1782 for the first volume to 1788 for the last, namely the Traité de l'aimant, which is therefore often missing from the series. Contemporary full red morocco binding. Spine with raised bands richly decorated. Title and volume labels in black morocco. Triple fillet frame on covers. Roulette on leading edges and board-edges. Gilt edges. Domino paper with gilt stars. Corners rubbed. Very handsome copy, perfectly bound in a master binding, very fresh. The Traité de l'aimant is the last work published during the author's lifetime and closes the Histoire naturelle whose edition spanned fifty years, and which enjoyed success comparable to Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie. The treatise proper is followed by numerous tables of observations on the inclination of the magnetic needle (with the names of travelers and navigators), in the southern and northern hemispheres, according to different latitudes. The treatise begins with an exposition of magnetic and electric forces. * vij (1) 208, 368p.