Heavyweight Summer Beach Reads

Complete new edition of Buffon's works, published in Paris by Eymery between 1825 and 1828 according to the arrangement established by the Comte de Lacépède and completed by the supplementary volume issued in 1828. A handsome complete set in 26 bound volumes (13.5 × 21 cm; total shelf length: 103 cm), illustrated with 245 plates: Buffon's portrait engraved by Devéria as the frontispiece, 216 hand-coloured plates - some heightened with gold - including 91 devoted to mammals and 126 to birds, 13 plates in black, and 4 folding maps. Most of the coloured plates were executed by Jean-Gabriel Prêtre, the animal painter successively attached to Empress Joséphine's menagerie...

First edition, one of 115 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies aside from 35 on pure thread.

Two small spots of foxing on the front cover, a discreet crease, a handsome copy as issued.
 
Rare and highly sought after in deluxe paper.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on Alfa paper, only deluxe copies ("tirage de tête").
Rare and nice copy.

First edition, one of 95 copies on pur fil, the only deluxe issue after 45 copies on Hollande.
A slight vertical crease on the front cover.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the deluxe issue.
Fine copy.

New edition. The original was published in 1740, without the supplements. The Supplementum primum is dated 1754 and the secundum 1760. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait, title vignettes, one plate in the first part of the Supplementum secundum and a second plate in the third part. The Supplementum parts have separate title pages.

Contemporary full brown calf bindings. Decorated spines with raised bands. Red morocco title labels and volume labels. Title label of volume III partly lacking. Lower headcap of the Supplementum primum worn and upper headcap likewise. Frontispiece detached.

The work forms an...

First edition. Rare. Engraved title page with printer’s vignette (a beehive and bees). A fine edition, handsomely printed on quality laid paper. The copy is authenticated by the author’s original signature.
The copy bears a preliminary page preceding the half-title for a prize, repeating the same motto found on the binding. The book appears to have been presented by the University or School of Harlem to Bernardo Van Laar in 1799 as a first prize in letters, and seems signed by several professors.
Contemporary full mottled calf binding. Emblematic binding (Athena – or Virtue? – with her attributes reading a book beneath a tree, on her shield: a sword surmounted by the Maltese cross...