Traité des pétrifications. Avec figures.

4to: xvi-163-[1]-91-[1] pp.; 60 pl.

Contemp. marbled calf, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands, red edges (sm. def. to headcap, corners skillfully restored). Nice large-margined copy.

First edition of one of the first treatises on palaeontology, attributed to the Swiss naturalist, geologist and archaeologist Bourguet (1678-1742), in collaboration with Pierre Cartier. Complete with 60 fold. pl. containing no less than 441 copper-engr. fig. of fossils collected by the author, mainly in Switzerland, and reproductions from the works of Lange and Scheuchzer. Dedicated to Réaumur, the work is divided into 2 parts: 1) discourse on the origin of stones and series of letters or memoirs; 2) essay on the classification of fossils (petrifications), followed by indexes including a list of the main works published on fossils, the main fossil sites in the world and the explanation of the plates.
Ref. Barbier IV:785. - Conlon 42:335. - Cp. Nissen (ZBI) (2nd ed., The Hague 1742).
Prov. Turgot-Tourailles (armorial bookpl. signed I. Lud. de Malomon). - Counts Cornet d'Elzius at Saint-Fontaine Castle (arm. bookpl.).