L'histoire naturelle éclaircie dans deux de ses parties principales. La lithologie et la conchyliologie, dont l'une traite des pierres et l'autre des coquillages [...].

2 parts in 1 vol., 4to: front.-[8]-491-[1] pp. (some minor spotting, sm. waterstain on top of first lvs, "apendice" bound after p. 92).

Cont. calf (rubbed, bumped edges, lacking part of leather on back cover), gilt decor. spine on 5 raised bands (joints splitting), red edges.

First edition of an illustrated inventory and classification of shells in eighteenth-century France by Dezallier d'Argenville (1680-1765). With an engr. front. by Chedel after Boucher and 33 engr. plates. In the "Apendice" 3 other pl. signed by J.J. Flipart. Dezallier (1680-1765) was advisor to the king and had a great knowledge of shells, at that time a gentleman's occupation. This work was written especially for the collector of shells in order to make the identification easier. Still a valuable source as it describes many of the famous 18th-c. natural history collections of Europe. Title in red & black. Ref. Nissen (ZBI) 144. - Barbier II:819. - Bn-Opale plus. Prov. "Josepho Van Huerne de Puijenbeke Brugis flandrorum 1789" (ms. ownership entry and notes).