Author: [Dezallier d'Argentville, Antoine-Joseph]
Title: 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
Description: De Bure 1742 [8], [1-]230 [1 leaf numbered 203*], [2], 231-491, [1], engraved allegorical frontispiece after Boucher, 32 engraved plates. . HB. title page printed in red and black, 4to, cont. mottled calf, expertly rebacked, raised bands, gilt titles, corners repaired, marbled endpapers, all edges tinted red. A handsome copy.. First edition. Rare. The first work by the author on natural history, published anonymously. Antoine-Joseph Dezallier d'Argenville (1680–1765) was a French courtier, natural historian, artist, and collector. He also published works on architecture and gardening. He described many important natural history collections of the day, and did much to popularize the study of natural history in France. This book was intended for naturalists and collectors to enable them to classify their shells. According to Dance (1966, Shell Collecting: An Illustrated History), the book 'was very popular with collectors and even Linnaeus utilized it to arrange his shells.'[Nissen ZBI, 144].

Keywords: ABABOOKFAIR; ABABOOKFAIR 2019; Conchology; Molluscs; Mollusca


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