NATURAL HISTORY - BUFFON, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte De & Louis Jean-Marie DAUBENTON. De algemeene en byzondere natuurlyke historie, met de beschryving van des konings kabinet [...]. Amsterdam & Dordrecht, J.H. Schneider, A. Blussé & Johannes Allart, 1773-1802. 4to. Complete, in 20 vol. Contemp. three quarter calf (corners showing, spine heads of most volumes and spine tail of vol. XII sl. worn, front joint of vol. XII cracked, binding of all volumes firm) over sponged boards (sl. rubbed) with raised bands, gold-tooled compartments and spine titles on lettering pieces. Title pages with engraved vignettes, engraved frontispiece portrait of the author in vol. I, profusely illustrated with 801 engraved plates (incl. 1 extra in vol. V and 5 folded), 1 engraved folded table (vol. V) and 2 engraved folded maps (vol. XVII), decorated with engraved head- and tailpieces and woodcut vignettes throughout. Several small marginal tears (incl. 2 plates), uncut pages throughout (incl. title pages of vol. VI-XII and XIV-XVI), occasional light foxing and toned pages, 4 leaves in vol. XIX sl. waterstained, else exceptionally clean, very fine copy. Complete. (4), XII, 308; (8), 308; (8), 264; (6), 266; (6), 208, 23-24 [double], (2); (4), 160; (6), 232; (6), 234; (6), 218; (6), 249, (1); (8), 264; (6), 293, (1); (6), 281, (1); (6), 280; (6), 260; (6), 202; (6), 322; (4), IV, 430; XIV, 168; (4), 302 pp. Notes: Over 800 engravings in this rare complete copy of the Dutch Buffon on quadruples, including the often lacking index published in 1802, here in a uniform binding numbered volume 20. Another series on birds was published by Blussé until 1806. Although cherished today for its visual qualities, Buffon's texts are a genuine time-machine that brings us back to the moment when even a monumental state of the art as impressive as this - for a substantial part - is based on ignorance, errancy and uncertainty. E.g. the extensive chapter on the hymen: "De Ontleedkunde laat, gelyk men ziet, eene volkoomen onzekerheid wegens het bestaan, van dat maagden-vlies en van die heuveltjes [...]", vol. 2, p. 248. A real gold mine of words and images, the animals looking at you as if it was the first time they encountered a human being. This extraordinary, partly unopened, large paper copy is one of a very few complete series offered in recent years and without doubt one of the finest.
NATURAL HISTORY - BUFFON, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte De & Louis Jean-Marie DAUBENTON. De algemeene en byzondere natuurlyke historie, met de beschryving van des konings kabinet [...]. Amsterdam & Dordrecht, J.H. Schneider, A. Blussé & Johannes Allart, 1773-1802. 4to. Complete, in 20 vol. Contemp. three quarter calf (corners showing, spine heads of most volumes and spine tail of vol. XII sl. worn, front joint of vol. XII cracked, binding of all volumes firm) over sponged boards (sl. rubbed) with raised bands, gold-tooled compartments and spine titles on lettering pieces. Title pages with engraved vignettes, engraved frontispiece portrait of the author in vol. I, profusely illustrated with 801 engraved plates (incl. 1 extra in vol. V and 5 folded), 1 engraved folded table (vol. V) and 2 engraved folded maps (vol. XVII), decorated with engraved head- and tailpieces and woodcut vignettes throughout. Several small marginal tears (incl. 2 plates), uncut pages throughout (incl. title pages of vol. VI-XII and XIV-XVI), occasional light foxing and toned pages, 4 leaves in vol. XIX sl. waterstained, else exceptionally clean, very fine copy. Complete. (4), XII, 308; (8), 308; (8), 264; (6), 266; (6), 208, 23-24 [double], (2); (4), 160; (6), 232; (6), 234; (6), 218; (6), 249, (1); (8), 264; (6), 293, (1); (6), 281, (1); (6), 280; (6), 260; (6), 202; (6), 322; (4), IV, 430; XIV, 168; (4), 302 pp. Notes: Over 800 engravings in this rare complete copy of the Dutch Buffon on quadruples, including the often lacking index published in 1802, here in a uniform binding numbered volume 20. Another series on birds was published by Blussé until 1806. Although cherished today for its visual qualities, Buffon's texts are a genuine time-machine that brings us back to the moment when even a monumental state of the art as impressive as this - for a substantial part - is based on ignorance, errancy and uncertainty. E.g. the extensive chapter on the hymen: "De Ontleedkunde laat, gelyk men ziet, eene volkoomen onzekerheid wegens het bestaan, van dat maagden-vlies en van die heuveltjes [...]", vol. 2, p. 248. A real gold mine of words and images, the animals looking at you as if it was the first time they encountered a human being. This extraordinary, partly unopened, large paper copy is one of a very few complete series offered in recent years and without doubt one of the finest.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
