Lot 30: DÉZALLIER D'ARGENVILLE, ANTOINE JOSEPH (1680-1765).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

L'Histoire naturelle éclaircie dans deux de ses parties principales, la lithologie et la conchyliologie, dont l'une traite des pierres et l'autre des coquillages. Paris: De Bure, 1742

first edition, 4to (292 x 215mm.), engraved frontispiece, title printed in red and black, 32 engraved plates, contemporary polished calf, spine tooled gilt in compartments, without the appendix

Nissen ZBI 144

"This work, illustrated with beautiful plates, was a great success. D'Argenville profited from the eighteenth century's infatuation with the natural sciences and, indeed, contributed to this vogue by publishing descriptions of the most notable exhibits of natural history in Paris and the provinces" (DSB).