Author: Count de la Cepede (translated by Robert Kerr)
Title: The Natural History of Oviparous Quadrupeds and Serpents. Arranged and Published from the Papers and Collections of the Count De Buffon, in 4 volumes complete
Description: Edinburgh: printed by Alex. Smellie for T. Cadel, W. Davies and W. Creech, 1802. First English edition. Pp. xliii, 420; xxiv, 345; iv, 383; xii, 282; with 45 of 48 copper-engraved plates of crocodiles, serpents, lizards, turtles, etc. (volume I lacks plate 2 and volume IV lacks plates 1 and 2; these 3 plates were not removed - they were never bound-in by the publisher). Contemporary full green morocco leather, spine with five raised bands, lettered in gilt on dark red morocco labels in two compartments and with elaborate gilt designs in the other four compartments, front and rear leather boards blind-stamped with elaborate diagonal line patterns, set off by gilt panel lines, all outer board edges decorated with gilt patterns, all page edges are marbled to match the marbled endpapers, 8vo. This is the first English translation of the Lacepede's major herpetological opus entitled Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupedes Ovipares et al Serpens originally issued in two large quarto volumes in 1788-1790. This was the first comprehensive world summary of amphibians and reptiles. Even today, it still has useful historical information. Lacepede's work remained very influential until the publication of Dumeril and Bibron Erpetologie Generale in the early 1800s (modified after Adler - Contributions to the History of Herpetology, volume 1). A very attractively-bound and uniform set. Signature of Henry Haffey on first text page of each volume; could be Henry Haffey, Esq., of Bath, formerly of Armagh. No other ownership marks and few signs of use. Some scattered light foxing mostly to the rear (blank) side of some plates, offsetting from some plates to their facing text-pages and offsetting from the text pages to a few plates; a very bright and clean copy in near fine condition..

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