Author: Deleuze, [J. P. F.]
Title: Histoire et description de Muséum Royal d'Histoire Naturelle, ouvrage rédigé d'après les ordres de l'administration du Muséum.
Description: Paris, A. Royer, 1823. Two volumes in two. 8vo (21.5 x 13.8 cm). vi, 720 pp.; three folded maps, five engraved plates (all tissue-guarded) to volume I; nine tissue-guarded engraved plates to volume II, for a total of 14 plates and three maps [complete]. Uniform contemporary full tree calf. Spines with gilt lines and vignettes, two red morocco labels with gilt titles. Edges yellow. = Rare publication about the royal garden and zoo of Paris, with fine illustrations of the buildings and some of the animals, including an elephant, bison and deer, and with historical maps of the garden layout. The name Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle is of a later date. The naturalist Joseph-Philippe-François Deleuze (1753-1835) was the Muséum's librarian. The work contains descriptions of the collections in several chapters, for instance the minerals, the birds, and the herpetological specimens, separately mentioning the most important pieces, their origin and collectors. Slight damage to rear board surface of volume I, some text leaves and plates a bit spotted, but mostly in the margins only. Otherwise a very good, clean, unmarked copy in an attractive contemporary binding. Brunet, 6252; Fearrington, Rooms of Wonder, 64. Not in Nissen ZBI.

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