Debure l'aîné

La Statique des végétaux, et l'analyse de l'air [with] Haemastatique, ou La Statique des animaux [Vegetable Staticks]
Our copy is complete of its 20 engraved figures on 10 folding plates for the first text and its in-fine folding plate for the second.

Contemporary bindings in full speckled blond sheep, spine in five compartments richly decorated with gilt raised bands, roll tooling and fleurons, as well as a title piece in Havana morocco, marbled endpapers, all edges speckled with red. Top spine end and two corners skillfully restored. Some leaves a little browned.

First edition, illustrated with 2 large folding maps, of western Russia and eastern Russia.
Contemporary full marbled calf bindings, spines with raised bands decorated, roulettes at head and foot. Red morocco title label, black wax volume labels. One wormhole along the upper joint at the foot of volume I. Upper joint of volume 3 nibbled for 3 cm. A tear at the foot of volume 2, with a small cut at the headcap. Volume labels rubbed. Corners rubbed. Handsome copy.
Levesque spent 7 years in Saint Petersburg during which he was a professor under the protection of Diderot who allowed him to consult the archives and documents necessary for the completion of his work, which forms the most accomplished history of Russia at the end of the 18th century. The work exercised a decisive influence on the image of Russia in Europe and on Russian historiographers. The accuracy of the facts and the quality of the narrative contributed to making Levesque's Histoire de la Russie a classic work in Russia.
Maccarthy Fitz-John bookplate.

First edition, rare.

Contemporary full speckled blonde sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with roulette at head and tail. Beige morocco title label. Lower board extensively affected by old dampstaining which has whitened and blackened the leather. 4 corners slightly bumped. Good copy with elegant spine.