Beschreibung:

BUC'HOZ, PIERRE-JOSEPH. Première [- Seconde] Centurie de Planches enluminées et non enluminées representant au Naturel ce qui se trouve de plus interessant et de plus curieux parmi les animaux, les vegetaux et les mineraux. Paris: chez Lacombe (parts 1-4); Amsterdam: Marc-Michel Rey (parts 5-20) [1775-] 1781. 2 vols., folio, 483 x 324 mm. (19 x 12 3/4 in.), contemporary French mottled sheep, covers panelled in gilt, spines gilt, red and green morocco gilt lettering-pieces, original blue endpapers, g.e., rubbed, a few small holes and scrapes to covers, inner hinges split, plate 7 in décade I:4 slightly creased, small rust-hole to pl. X:9:10, not affecting image, small abraded area to plate II:5:10, two leaves with short marginal tears, faint discoloration to most plates, occasional light foxing, heavier foxing to plate II:5:2 . FIRST EDITION, 20 engraved titles printed in blue, red, yellow or black, 200 engraved plates after Desmoulins, G. de Favane and others by various engravers, EACH IN HAND-COLORED AND PLAIN STATES, 20 engraved leaves of descriptive text. Buc'hoz's Centuries were issued in 20 parts or décades , each containing 20 plates depicting curiosities from one of the 3 kingdoms, animal, vegetable and mineral, totalling 60 botanical plates, 60 plates of fossils, minerals and rocks, and 80 zoological plates including 26 of birds. Anker 73; Fine Bird Books , p. 63; Nissen IVB 156. Provenance : Masbou, syndic, bookplates dated 1827 on versos of titles, above presentation inscriptions dated 20 June 1836, to his nephew Fr. Th. Audéoud(?), as a reward for being first in Latin. (2)