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Small Octavo. Volume I: (in Sixth Edition, 1744): Frontispiece, [3], XVIII, 323 pages plus 13 pages of an Index / Volume II: (in Sixth Edition, 1743): Frontispiece, VIII, [4], 312 pages including Index / Volume III: (in Sixth Edition, 1743): Frontispiece, XVIII, 366 pages including Index / Volume IV: (In Fourth Edition,1743) Frontispiece, 368 pages including Index / Volume V: (In Fourth Edition, 1763): Frontispiece, [2], 329 pages / Volume VI: (In Third Edition, 1763): Frontispiece, [3], XXXII, 308 pages / Volume VII: (In Fourth Edition, 1763): Frontispiece, [4], 323, [1] pages. Hardcover / Original 18th century full leather with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown. Extremely beautiful publication with an abundance of illustrations of Insects and Butterflies, Maps, etc. The 204 Plates overall in excellent condition with only very few of them with some tears. Interior and plates really bright and clean ! An exceptional version of this work. The Work by Pluche is created as a Dialogue between a Prior and Chevalier as well as a Count and sometimes a Countess. Volume I (Sixth Edition 1744): 26 Plates including Frontispiece (many of the plates are folding out) Volume One is an introductory Volume and includes Chapters with Dialogues on Insects and Birds and Terrestrial Animals and Fishes and Plants and holds some initial Plates which illustrate what kind of Illustrations the reader can expect in the detailed Chapters of coming Volumes. Illustrations in Volume One include 16 Plates on Insects, Two Plates on Birds, Two Plates on Terrestrial Animals, One Plate on Fishes, Three Plates on Plants and a manuscript entry on "Aloe of China" (Daniel Conner has signed this book at the rear) Volume II (Sixth Edition 1743): 35 Plates including Frontispiece (many of the Plates are folding out) Volume Two starts with a fantastic Frontispiece, showing "The Vine planted in Gaul" and a full explanation of the Frontispiece follows on page VII. The Introduction to Volume Two could not better explain the aim of the publication: "The Plan of the Second Part - As we were desirous to exercise the Minds of young Persons with amusing subjects and to engage their attention to the Wonders of Providence [Pluche refers here to Divine Intervention] by the Mediation of pleasing Ideas; we endeavoured in the first Volume of this Work to present their View the Generality of these Animals, with which that Providence has replenished the various parts of Nature for the benefit of Mankind.All our Readers are naturally desirous of Affluence and Distinction, Power and Happiness. This work will unfold to their View a Profusion of Riches and Liberalities, which cover the Surface of the Earth." Volume II includes the following chapters: The Parterre, or Flower-Plot / The Pleasures and Advantages of Gardening in General and of the Olitory or Kitchen-garden in particular / The Disposition of an Olitory or Kitchen - Gardenn / The Cultivation and Manner of Pruning Fruit - Trees / The Plantation of Orange - Trees / The Plantation of Fig - Trees / The Plantation of Olive - Trees / Fruits / Esculent Plants and Roots / Of Legumes etc. / Corn and Other Grain / Vines / Wine / Woods / Volume III (The Sixth Edition 1743): 32 Plates including Frontispiece (many of the Plates are folding out) with one particular interesting Plate showing "The Orbit of the Earth in its Annual Revolution": Volume III is basically "The Sequel of the Second Part; giving an Account of the Surface of the Earth" and includes the following Chapters: Pasture and Meadow-Grounds / A Dialogue on Rivers / Of Fountains / The Ascent of Vapours from the Sea / Dialogue of Mountains / Dialogue of the Sea / Dialogue of the Air / Dialogue on Fossils / Dialogue on Quarries and Mines / Useful Reflections on the Whole in a Letter from the Prior to the Chevalier / Volume I.
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