1785–1787 Buffon Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux | Complete 18 Volume Hand-Colored Set | Aux Deux-Ponts | Contemporary Bindings

$25,000.00
Few scientific works embody the spirit of the Enlightenment as completely as Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon's monumental Histoire Naturelle. Among its most celebrated sections is Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux—an ambitious and beautifully illustrated survey of the world's birds that transformed ornithology from a simple catalog of species into a thoughtful exploration of behavior, habitat, anatomy, and the relationship between animals and mankind. Offered here is a complete eighteen-volume set of the desirable Aux Deux-Ponts (Zweibrücken) edition, published by Sanson & Compagnie between 1785 and 1787. Remarkably, this set has remained together in the same family from the Champagne region of France for generations, preserving both its integrity and remarkable state of preservation. Unlike the many Buffon sets broken apart over the past century so their exquisite engravings could be sold individually, this example survives intact. Every volume is uniformly bound in its original full speckled calf, retaining richly gilt-decorated spines, red morocco title labels, marbled endpapers, and contemporary hand-colored engraved plates after the celebrated illustrations of François-Nicolas Martinet. The books present with an attractive warm patina acquired only through more than two centuries of careful preservation. The text reflects Buffon's revolutionary approach to natural history. Rather than merely describing the physical characteristics of each bird, Buffon and his collaborators explored migration, nesting habits, song, geographic distribution, and behavior, creating one of the earliest truly comprehensive ornithological studies. These volumes became foundational references for European naturalists and remain among the great illustrated scientific books of the eighteenth century. Details Title: Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière – Oiseaux Author: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon Publisher: Sanson & Compagnie Place: Aux Deux-Ponts (Zweibrücken) Dates: 1785–1787 Complete: 18 volumes Illustrations: Original engraved plates with contemporary hand coloring Binding: Contemporary full speckled calf with gilt-decorated spines and red morocco labels Endpapers: Original marbled papers Language: French Provenance: Descended through a single family from the Champagne region of France Condition A remarkably well-preserved and visually cohesive set. Bindings remain sound with only expected light rubbing and shelf wear consistent with age. Gilt decoration remains attractive, interiors are clean, and the original marbled endpapers are intact. The contemporary hand coloring is fresh and vibrant. An exceptional survival, particularly considering that so many comparable eighteenth-century Buffon sets have been dispersed or had their plates removed. Whether acquired for an important rare book library, a collection devoted to natural history, or displayed as one of the defining works of the Enlightenment, this complete hand-colored set represents one of the great illustrated ornithological publications of the eighteenth century and a lasting testament to Buffon's influence on the scientific study of the natural world. Check out some of my other books here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=29392957 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
Few scientific works embody the spirit of the Enlightenment as completely as Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon's monumental Histoire Naturelle. Among its most celebrated sections is Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux—an ambitious and beautifully illustrated survey of the world's birds that transformed ornithology from a simple catalog of species into a thoughtful exploration of behavior, habitat, anatomy, and the relationship between animals and mankind. Offered here is a complete eighteen-volume set of the desirable Aux Deux-Ponts (Zweibrücken) edition, published by Sanson & Compagnie between 1785 and 1787. Remarkably, this set has remained together in the same family from the Champagne region of France for generations, preserving both its integrity and remarkable state of preservation. Unlike the many Buffon sets broken apart over the past century so their exquisite engravings could be sold individually, this example survives intact. Every volume is uniformly bound in its original full speckled calf, retaining richly gilt-decorated spines, red morocco title labels, marbled endpapers, and contemporary hand-colored engraved plates after the celebrated illustrations of François-Nicolas Martinet. The books present with an attractive warm patina acquired only through more than two centuries of careful preservation. The text reflects Buffon's revolutionary approach to natural history. Rather than merely describing the physical characteristics of each bird, Buffon and his collaborators explored migration, nesting habits, song, geographic distribution, and behavior, creating one of the earliest truly comprehensive ornithological studies. These volumes became foundational references for European naturalists and remain among the great illustrated scientific books of the eighteenth century. Details Title: Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière – Oiseaux Author: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon Publisher: Sanson & Compagnie Place: Aux Deux-Ponts (Zweibrücken) Dates: 1785–1787 Complete: 18 volumes Illustrations: Original engraved plates with contemporary hand coloring Binding: Contemporary full speckled calf with gilt-decorated spines and red morocco labels Endpapers: Original marbled papers Language: French Provenance: Descended through a single family from the Champagne region of France Condition A remarkably well-preserved and visually cohesive set. Bindings remain sound with only expected light rubbing and shelf wear consistent with age. Gilt decoration remains attractive, interiors are clean, and the original marbled endpapers are intact. The contemporary hand coloring is fresh and vibrant. An exceptional survival, particularly considering that so many comparable eighteenth-century Buffon sets have been dispersed or had their plates removed. Whether acquired for an important rare book library, a collection devoted to natural history, or displayed as one of the defining works of the Enlightenment, this complete hand-colored set represents one of the great illustrated ornithological publications of the eighteenth century and a lasting testament to Buffon's influence on the scientific study of the natural world. Check out some of my other books here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=29392957 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP