Schuh’s Annotated Bio-Bibliography

BUFFON, Georges-Louis Leclerc.

(1707 – 1788)

(Born: Montbard, Côte d'Or, France, 7 September 1707; Died: Paris, France, 16 April 1788) French naturalist & biologist.

Buffon was from 1739 he was keeper of the Jardin du Roi (later the Jardin des Plantes) in Paris and made it a center of research during the Enlightenment. He devoted his life to his monumental Histoire Naturelle (44 vol., 1749-1804), a popular and brilliantly written compendium of data on natural history interspersed with Buffon's own speculations and theories. Of this work, the volumes Histoire Naturelle des Aanimaux and Époques de la Nature are of special interest. His famous Discours sur le Style was delivered (1753) on his reception into the French Academy. He also contributed to the mathematics of probability.

Biographical references: ABF: I 165, 290-404; II 108, 134-160. • Browne, J., "Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comté de Buffon (1707-88)", Endeavour, 12, (1988), 86-90. • Buffon 88: actes du Colloque international pour le bicentenaire de la mort de Buffon. (Paris, Montbard, Dijon, 14-22 juin 1988). Réunis par Jean-Claude Beaune ... [et al.]; sous la direction de Jean Gayon; préface d'Ernst Mayr; postface de Georges Canguilhem. Paris, J. Vrin; Lyon, Institut interdisciplinaire d'etudes epistémologiques, 1992. ix, 771 p., illus. • Catalogue of Portraits of Naturalists: 236-9 [92 portraits listed]. • DSB: 2, ??. • Dujarric de la Rivière, R., Buffon, sa vie, ses oevres, pages choisies. Paris, J. Peyronnet, 1971. 123 p., plates (part colored). • Feller, Biographie Universelle, 1851. • Fellows, O.E. and S.F. Miliken, Buffon. New York, Twayne Publishers, c1972. 186 p. [Published as: Twayne's world authors series, TWAS 243. France]. • Gascar, P., Buffon. [Mayenne], Gallimard, 1983. 267 p. [ISBN 2070700070]. • Lacépède, M. le Comté de, Vie de Buffon. Amsterdam, Paris, Maradan, 1788. 187 p. • Michaut, N., Eloge de Buffon par Narcisse Michaut; ouvrage couronné par l'Académie française précédé d'une notice par Émile Gebhart. Paris, Hachette, 1878. [6], xxxii, 233, [3] p. • Nouvelle Biographie Générale (Hoefer). • Poggendorff: 1, col. 338. • Roger, J., Buffon: a life in natural history by Jacques Roger; translated by Sarah Lucille Bonnefoi; edited by L. Pearce Williams. Ithaca, N.Y.; London, Cornell University Press, 1997. xvii, 492 p., illus. [Published as: Cornell History of Science Series; ISBN: 0801429188]. • WBI. • World Who's Who in Science: 268.

Histoire Générale

Buffon's Natural History, General and Particular for the first time presented a survey of the whole of natural science in a popular form. It is a monumental work, justifiably praised, containing information on almost every topic of 18th century natural history. It is also brilliantly written and through its diversity of topics, originality and richness of thought, it became an authoritative voice until the time of Darwin.

In 1739 Buffon became director of the Jardin du Roi (now Jardin des Plantes). In this position he began a catalog of the collections, but soone developed the project into a complete study of nature that was unlike anything perviously known in the literature. It is among the first scientific works to present its ideas in an autonomous way, free from religious influence. As such the idea is developed that the earth and nature have developed over a very long period of geological time, and with in this intellectual framework, botany, paleontology, zoology, geography, mineralogy, etc are described.

Beginning first with the help of his assistant, Louis Daubenton, and later with other collaborators, but always under his careful stewardship and control, this vast publication was advertised in a prospectus circulated in 1749. In it Buffon outlines the scope of the project, the method of preparation, the number of volumes (Buffon envisioned 15 volumes, but the completed work is 44 volumes), the contents of each volume, their illustrations, etc. Even though it was an expensive set to publish, the Histoire Naturelle proved to be a financial and popular success that is shown by the frequency with which the work was reissued and translated. However, it is this popularity that makes the bibliography of it various editions, issues, and translations a torny problem. To the original work were published supplemental volumes that are usually not included in later printings of the text. Also, the individual sections on birds, animals, minerals etc. were often times published as stand alone works for buyers not interested in purchasing the complete and expensive set. This all makes the complete bibliography of Buffon's Histoire Naturelle a knot that may never be fully unraveled.

In the first edition of the Histoire Naturelle mineralogy is treated at the end of the work in five volumes that were published between 1783 and 1788. In addition 3 supplemental volumes dealing with mineralogy were published. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx. Listed below are given details of the various editions known from a variety of sources to the compiler that contain or are likely to contain the mineralogical section.

1. French, 1749 [Prospectus].
Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particuliére, avec la Description du Cabinet du Roy. Paris, De L'Imprimerie Royale, 1749.

4°: [2], 8 p., large woodcut vignette on title.

Extremely rare. The Prospectus for the Histoire Naturelle, written by Buffon himself, announcing to the world the publication of his revolutionary natural history work. It was to present "for the first time a complete survey of natural history in a popular form...[Buffon] was the first to present the universe as one complete whole and to find no phenomenon calling for any but a purely scientific explanation." (Printing and the Mind of Man). Here the project is outlined, with Buffon envisioning 15 volumes to complete the text, the methodology followed, the contents of each volume, types of illustrations, etc. He emphasizes that the appearance of each volume will resemble the prospectus. At the conclusion, are listed the two booksellers - Durand and Pissot - through whom copies of the work could be obtained.

Bibliographical references: BL [??????]. • Jonathan Hill, Bookseller: cat. ?? (2002), no. ??. • NUC [no copy listed]. • PPM: Printing and the Mind of Man: no. 198.

Histoire Naturelle, 1749

44 vols. in 45, 4°, with engraved vignettes on the titles of the first 15 vols., headpieces, and 1279 engraved plates including engraved portrait frontispiece (in vol. I of Supplément), 12 maps, and 4 folding tables.

Very scarce. REWORK THIS ENTRY. Buffon devoted his life to his monumental Histoire Naturelle, a popular and brilliantly written compendium of data on natural history interspersed with Buffon's own speculations and theories. Besides the comprehensive coverage of natural history (including mankind) and minerals, the work incorporates Buffon's highly important Théorie de la Terre, elaborated in the fifth volume of the Supplement under the title Des Epoques de la Nature.

"Buffon's work is of exceptional importance because of its diversity, richness, originality, and influence. Buffon was among the first to create an autonomous science, free of any theological influence. He emphasized the importance of natural history and the great length of geological time. He envisioned the nature of science and understood the roles of paleontology, zoological geography, and animal psychology. He realised both the necessity of transformism and its difficulties. Although his cosmogony was inadequate and his theory of animal reproduction was weak, and although he did not understand the problem of classification, he did establish the intellectual framework within which most naturalists up to Darwin worked." (DSB)

Buffon is considered the founder of evolutionary theory. "Georges Buffon set forth his general views on species classification in the first volume of his Histoire Naturelle. Buffon objected to the so-called "artificial" classifications of Andrea Cesalpino and Carolus Linnaeus, stating that in nature the chain of life has small gradations from one type to another and that the discontinuous categories are all artificially constructed by mankind. Buffon suggested that all organic species may have descended form a small number of primordial types; this is an evolution predominantly from more perfect to less perfect forms." (Parkinson, Breakthroughs)

Like that other great product of the enlightenment, the Encyclopédie, the Histoire Naturelle was a collaborative enterprise, outliving its instigator and chief author. The two scientists who were foremost among the several contributors were Daubenton and Lacepede (first as Comte de, then as Citoyen): they completed the work after Buffon's death in 1788.

Over 1,000 of the plates are the work of Jacques de Seve, pere et firs: a full list of the artists is provided by Nissen. They range in style from exact anatomical drawings (skeletons, dissections, etc.) to settings of animals in their natural habitat. The headpieces are fanciful masterpieces of baroque decoration.

In spite of the costliness of the work, its numerous editions and translations testify to its popularity. Most sets lack some or all of the Supplement volumes, and/or various plates. For clarity, below is a breakdown of the various sections of the work:

Histoire Naturelle, Generale et Paticuliere, avec la Description du Cabinet du Roi, 15 vols., 1749-67. Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, 9 vols., 1770-83. Histoire Naturelle des Mineraux, 6 vols. (the sixth vol. is the maps bound separately), 1783-88. Supplement a l'Histoire Naturelle, 7 vole., 1774-89. Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupedes Ovipares et des Serpens, 2 vole., 1788-89. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, 5 vole., An VI-XI (1798-1803.) Histoire Naturelle des Cetaces, 1 vol., 1804.

The Histoire Générale was a widely reprinted and translated work. Sometimes only individual sections were produced, other times the complete work appeared. Listed below are a spattering of these editions and translations known (or thought) to contain the mineralogical section.

Bibliographical references: BMC: 1, 281. • Dibner, Heralds of Science, 1955: 193. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 107. • Nissen (ZBI): 672. • Norman Catalog: no. 369. • PPM: Printing and the Mind of Man: 198. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 184. • Sparrow, Milestones of Science, 1972: p. 23. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 383. • Wood, Literature of Vertebrate Zoology, 1931: p. 267.

3. French, 1749-67 [Another edition].
Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière, avec la description du Cabinet du Roi. Paris, de L'Imprimerie nationale, 1749 [-1767].

15 vols. 4°: [6]-612, [4]-603, [4]-530, xvi-544, [4]-311-[1], vi-[2]-344, [4]-378-[1], [6]-402-[1], [6]-375-[1], [8]-368, [4]-450-[1], [6]-xvi-451-[1], [6]-xx-441-[3], [6]-411-[1], [6]-411-[1], [6]-207-cccxxiv pp. et 579 pll. et 1 tableau dépliant (qqs petits trous de vers aux tomes I et X). Very scarce.

4. French, 1766-99 [Another edition].
Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière, avec la Description du Cabinet du Roi ... Nouvelle Édition. Amsterdam, 1766-99.

38 vols. Various publishers are: Amsterdam, J.H. Schneider, 1766-79 (21 vols. ) and Dordrecht, A. Blussé et fils., 1795-99 (17 vols. ). 4°, engraved portrait by J. Houbraken after Drouais, 1137 plates (8 folding) & 12 maps (10 folding), 31 title vignettes and 38 head-pieces, by C.F. Fritzch, B. de Bakker, C. Buys, J. van Schley and others. All finely hand-colored. Page size: 298 x 242 mm.

Rare. This item represents a tall set in its rarest and most costly state, with the meticulous hand-coloring adding another dimension to the fine plates. The periodic avis to the subscribers mentions copies on grand papier, but there is no mention of hand-coloring. Landwehr, in his notes to the first edition in Dutch, quotes contemporary source that mention four issues: normal paper, large paper, copies with colored plates and (most expensive of all) copies with plates and vignettes hand-colored.

The set was published and bound in five different sections: Histoire Naturelle (15 vols.; Schneider, 1766-71), Supplement (7 vols.; vols. I-VI, Schneider, 1774-79 & vol. VII, Blussé, 1799), Oiseaux (9 vols.; Blussé, 1796-1795-1799), Mineraux (5 vols.; Blussé, 1798-9), and Ovipares et Serpens (2 vols.; Blussé, 1798-9). The correct number of plates is problematic: Nissen calls for 1130 plates and maps. Other sets have been sold with 1144 and 1156 plates and maps.

With all the plates in beautiful Dutch contemporary colouring, this work is one of the rarest and most beautifully produced natural history works published in the Netherlands. The list of subscribers which is found in volume 8 lists only 2 coloured large paper copies, one for Daum, banquier à Berlin (pour un exple sur grand Papier & enluminé) and the other one for M.L.P., all others were uncoloured. The total number of copies printed did not exceed 200, a few large paper copies were issued and even fewer 'illuminated' copies. The price of a coloured copy was about fl. 600 which makes it one of the most expensive Dutch natural history books of the 18th century. The most expensive work was a coloured copy of Seba at fl. 800.

The present 'l'Allemand' edition is the only quarto edition to rival the original French Imprimerie Royale edition (1749-1804) in 44 volumes. It does not contain the later published volumes by Lacépède on fishes and whales, as these were published after the date of above edition, it however contains numerous additions by l'Allemand which were included in the later French Buffon editions. All plates are after drawings by de Sève, the famous French landscape painter. The animals are depicted in their natural habitat, amidst charming landscapes, villages, rivers, mountains etc. These elaborately drawn plates, full of elegance, became exceedingly popular and have often been copied by later artists. They have an artistic liveliness which is somehow lacking in the the work Martinet made for Buffon's 'Planches Enluminées'. "Buffon's work is of exceptional importance because of its diversity, richness, originality, and influence. Buffon was among the first to create an autonomous science, free of any theological influence. He emphasized the importance of natural history and the great length of geological time" (DSB).

Bibliographical references: Landwehr, Studies in Dutch Books, 1976: 45. • Nissen (ZBI): no. 678.

Histoire Naturelle, 1774

4 vols. [Vol 1] 4°: 612 p. (Theorie de la Terre). [Vol 2] 4°: 542, xxviii p., 16 plates (Introduction de l'Histoire des Mineraux). [Vol 3] 4°: 564, xxxiv p. (Parites Experimentale & Hypothetique). [Vol 4] 4°: 615 p., 2 folded maps, 6 folded plates (Epoques de la Nature). Page size: 260 x 210 mm.

Very scarce. A French naturalist and cosmologist; Buffon (1707-1788) is best noted for his monumental work Histoire Naturelle, published in 44 vols. between 1749 and 1804. His writings contain an evolutionary theory for animal and plant life, and most importantly his volume "Epoques de la Nature" contains the description of the origins of the earth and other planets from comet impact with the sun and solidification from a molten state. Buffon points out the long chronological history of the earth that is recorded in the rocks. Volumes in the set cover the histories of the earth, man, animals, plants, and minerals. Many of the volumes pertain to the quadrapeds. The volumes offered above are the first edition of those which pertain to the theory of the earth.

Bibliographical references: DSB: 2, p. 579. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: p. 99. • LKG: XII 100a*. • Wallerius, Brevis Introductio, 1779: p. 124.

6. French, 1776.
Histoire naturelle generale et particuliere, servant de suite a la theorie de la Terre et d'introduction a l'histoire des mineraux. Paris, 1776.

4 vols. and a supplement. 8°: Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: LKG: XIII 125.

7. French, 1784-85.
Histoire naturelle, générale et particuliere. Lausanne, 1784-85.

17 vols. Containing 3 Frontespices 3 engraved folded maps and 102 fullpage engravings. [Vol 1] 8°: [2], Frontespices [portrait of comte de Buffon], [2] 300 p., 3 folded engraved folded maps [western and eastern hemisspheres as well as the polar regions]. [Vol 2] 8°: [3], 292 p. [Vol 3] 8°: [3], 262 p. [Vol 4] 8°: [2], Frontespiece, 308 p. [Vol 5] 8°: [3], 274 p., 16 engraved mineralogical plates numbered I-XVI. [Vol 6] 8°: [3], 308 p. [Vol 7] 8°: [3], 299 p. [Vol 8] 8°: [3], 440 p. [Vol 9] 8°: [3], 347 p. [Vol 10] 8°: [2], Frontespiece [2], 328 p. [Vol 11] 8°: [3], 276 p. [Vol 12] 8°: [3], 304 p. [Vol 13] 8°: [3], 240 p. Vols. XIV-XVII contain the zoological works of Buffon and are numbered as volumes I-IV. [Vol 14] 8°: (Vol I) [3], 325 p., 7 engraved fullpage plates of animals. (pl 1, p. 222, pl 2, p. 288, pl 3, p. 309, pl 4,5,6,7, p. 324). [Vol 15] 8°: (Vol II) [3], 303 p., 35 engraved fullpage plates of animals. [pl. 8,8,9, 30 p. pl 10. 76 p. pl. 11 - 23, 80 p. pl. 24,24,24,25, 80 p. pl. 26,27,28, 110 p. pl. 29 - 33, 168 p. pl 34, 176 p. pl. 35, 198 p. pl. 37-39, 230 p. pl. 41, 290 p.]. [Vol 16] 8°: (Vol III) [5], 256 p., 32 engraved fullpage plates of animals. [2 plates in the beginning of the band. 1 pl. 8 p. 1 pl. 14 p. 1 pl. 22 p. 1pl. 26 p. 2 pl. 28 p. 1 pl. 34 p. 1 pl. 56 p. 1 pl. 60 p. 1 pl. 66 p. 1 pl. 78 p. 1 pl. 80 p. 1pl. 88 p. 1 pl. 92 p. 1 pl. 96 p. 1 pl. 106 p. 1 pl. 110 p. 3 pl. 112 p. 1 pl. 124 p. 1 pl. 134 p. 1pl. 135 p. 1 pl. 156 p. 1 pl. 178 p. 1 pl. 182 p. 1 pl. 218 p. 1 pl. 224 p. 2pl. 230 p.]. [Vol 17] 8°: (Vol IV) [3], 224 p., 12 fullpage engraved plates of animals of which one is loose. [1 pl. 86 p. 2 pl. 100 p. 1 pl. 135 p. 1 pl. 158 p. 1 pl. 168 p. 1 pl. 184 p. 1 pl. 202 p. 1 pl. 208 p. 2 pl. 210 p. and one loose plate.].

Very scarce. The text is complete. Buffons work contains most of the knowledge in natural science of its time. Buffon proofs for the first time that the age of our planet must be much older than the 6000 years stipulated in the bible.

8. French, 1785-90.
Histoire naturelle, generale et particuliere, par m. le comte de Buffon. Deux-Ponts, Chez Sanson & compagnie, 1785-1790.

54 v. : front. (port., v. 1) plates (part col. and part. fold.) fold. maps, fold. tables. Very scarce.

t. 1. De la manière d'étudier & de traiter l'histoire naturelle. Preuves de la théorie de la terre. -t. 2. Preuves de la théorie de la terre (cont.) -t. 3. Histoire generale des animaux. -t. 4. Histoire naturelle de l'homme. -t. 5. Histoire naturelle de l'homme. Discours sur la nature des animaux. Lettres de mm. les députés & syndic de la faculté de théologie à m. de Buffon. Discours prononcé à l'Académie française. Essai de arithmétique morale.Probabilités de la vie. Naissances mariages, &c. -t. 11. Supplèment. -t. 12. Epoques de la nature. Supplément. -t. 13. Supplément. Notes. Explication de la art géographique. -t. 14-24. Quadrupèdes. -t. 25. Tables des matières continués dans les oeuvres complètes de m. le comte de Buffon. Quadrupèdes. -t. 26-43. Oiseaux. -t. 44-52. Histoire naturelle des minéraux.

9. French, 1797.
Histoire naturelle. Paris, Hacquart, 1797-1800.

11 vols., with c350 pages per volume. 8°. One engraved portrait of Buffon, 2 folding tables, 86 engraved plates.

Very scarce. Nicht bei Nissen. Offenbar seltenere Ausgabe des oft aufgelegten zoologischen Standardwerks. Die Kupfer mit den bekannten Tierdarstellungen u.a. nach Drouais, De Seve , N. Blakey und L´Epine.

Histoire Naturelle des Minéraux

Histoire Naturelle des Mineraux, 1783 (4° ed.)

5 vols. [Vol 1: 1783] 4°: [4], [1]-557, [1] blank, i-xl p.; [Vol 2: 1783] 4°: [4], [1]-602, i-xxvi p.; [Vol 3: 1785] 4°: [6], [1]-636, i-xix, [1] blank p.; [Vol 4: 1786] 4°: [6], [1]-448, i-xxxix, [1] blank p.; [Vol 5] 4°: [i]-vii, [1] errata, [1]-208, [1]-368 p.; [Supplement I] 4°: viii, 615, xxviii p., 6 plates. Page size: 252 x 192 mm.

Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table des Titres Conteuns dans ce Volume."; [1]-557, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.; i-xl, "Table des Matière contenues dans ce Volume."

[Vol 2] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [1 pgs], "Table des Articles Conteuns dans ce Volume."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-602, Text.; i-xxvi, "Table des Matière contenues dans ce Volume."

[Vol 3] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [3 pgs], "Table des Articles Conteuns dans ce Volume."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-636, Text.; i-xix, "Table des Matière contenues dans ce Volume."; [1 pg], Blank.

[Vol 4] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [4 pgs], "Table des de ce qui est Contenu dans ce Volume."; [1]-448, Text.; i-xxxix, "Table des Matière contenues dans ce Volume."; [1 pg], Blank.

[Vol 5] [i-ii], Half title page, "Histoire Naturelle des Mineraux. Tome V. Traité de l'Aimant et de ses Usages," verso blank.; [iii-iv], Title page, verso blank.; [v]-vii, "Table des Articles contenus dans ce Volume."; [1 pg], Errata.; [1]-192, "... Traité de lAimant et de ses Usages."; 193-208, "Table des Matières."; [1]-368, "Table Contenant les Observations qui ont été faites, dans ces dirniers tens, sur la Déclinaison de l'Aiguille aimanteé."

Very scarce. 5 vol., first edition of this part, bound without the plates, some clear waterstains but a sound copy in contemporary mottled calf, gilt spines, m.e., much worn, joints cracked, head of spines defective and some other worn patches, Paris, Imprimerie Royale, 1783-88 As the BM(NH) Cat. notes (I, 281) vol. 5 comprises a treatise on the magnet, and thus of the compass. There is no list of plates or any other indication that they should be present, but Nissen 672 calls for 8 plates and a map in this portion. In fact there should be 8 folding maps in total, and they apply to the magnet volume only; later editions do have plates of minerals.

Bibliographical references: DSB: 2, 579 [by Jacques Roger]. • English Review: 5, 64-71 & pp. 289-295. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 108. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: p. 99. • LKG: XII 100. • Wallerius, Brevis Introductio, 1779: 124.

Histoire Naturelle des Minéraux, 1783 (8° ed.)

8 vols?. [Vol 1: 1783] 8°: π² A-S¹² T³; ??l.; [4], [1]-438 p. [Vol 2: 1783] 8°: π² A-S¹² T¹¹; ??l.; [4], [1]-392, i-lxii p. [Vol 3: 1784] 8°: π² a¹ A-T¹² V⁸; ??l.; [i]-vi, [1]-471, [1] p. [Vol 4: 1784] 8°: π² a¹ A-Q¹² R¹⁰; ??l.; [6], [1]-365, [1], [i]-xxxvii, [1] p. [Vol 5] 8°: Not seen. [Vol 6: 1785] 8°: π² a² A-Q¹² R¹⁰; ??l.; [8], [1]-404 p. [Vol 7] 8°: Not seen. [Vol 8] 8°: Not seen. Page size: 164 x 100 mm.

Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table Des Titres | Contenus dans ce Volume."; [1]-438, Text.

[Vol 2] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table Des Titres | Contenus dans ce Volume."; [1]-392, Text.; i-lxii (=R5-T11), "Table | Des Matières contenues dans | ces deux Volumes."

[Vol 5] Not seen.

[Vol 7] Not seen.

[Vol 8] Not seen.

Rare, octavo edition of Buffon's writings. The two volumes contain the following chapters a.o.: De la figuration des minéraux, verres primitifs, quartz, jaspe, mica & talc, feld-spath, schorl, roches vitreuses, granit, grès, argilles & glaises, craie, marne, pierre calcaire, albatre, marbre, pierres composées de matière vitreuses…

Historire Naturalle des Minéraux, 1798

[Title page of volume 5 reads:]

5 vols. bound in 2. [Vol 1: 1798] 4°: π² A-Z⁴ 2A-2G⁴ 2H-2K² 2L¹; 129l.; [4], [1]-253, [1] p.; [Vol 2: 1798] 4°: *² A-Z⁴ 2A-2I⁴ 2K³; 133l.; [4], [1]-262 p.; [Vol 3: 1798] 4°: *² A-Z⁴ 2A-2L⁴ 2M³; 141l.; [4], [1]-277, [1] p.; [Vol 4: 1798] 4°: *² A-Z⁴ 2A-2C⁴ 2D²; 104l.; [4], [1]-204 p.; [Vol 5: 1799] 4°: *² A-Z⁴ 2A-2S⁴; 162l.; [4], [1]-324 p., 8 large folding maps. Page size: 254 x 202 mm.

Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table Des Titres | Contenus Dans Ce Volume."; [1]-239, Text.; 240-253, "Table Des Matières."; [1 pg], Blank.

[Vol 2] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table Des Titres | Contenus Dans Ce Volume."; [1]-253, Text.; 254-262, "Table Des Matières."

[Vol 3] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table Des Titres | Contenus Dans Ce Volume."; [1]-253, Text.; 254, "Arrangement Des Mineraux, | En Table Méthodique, | Rédigée d'après la connoissance de leurs propriétés naturelles."; 255-270, "Table Méthodique Des Minéraux."; 271-277, "Table Des Matières."; [1 pg], Blank.

[Vol 4] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table | De Ce Qui Est Contenu Dans Ce Volume."; [1]-190, Text.; 191-204, "Table Des Matières."

[Vol 5] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Table Des Articles | Contenus Dans Ce Volume."; [1]-80, Text.; 81-87, "Table Des Matières."; [88]-322, "Tables | Contenant les Observations qui ont été faites, dans ces derniers tems, | sur la Déclinaison de l'Aiguille aimantée."; 323-324, Text, ending with "Approbation."

Very scarce. Perhaps the greatest publication of the French enlightenment of the 18th century was Buffon's Histoire Générale et Particulière (1st ed., 44 vols., Paris, 1744-1804). "Buffon's work is of exceptional importance because of its diversity, richness, originality, and influence. Buffon was among the first to create an autonomous science, free of any theological influence. He emphasized the importance of natural history and the great length of geological time. He envisioned the nature of science and understood the roles of paleontology, zoological geography, and animal psychology. He realized both the necessity of transformism and its difficulties. Although his cosmogony was inadequate and his theory of animal reproduction was weak, and although he did not understand the problem of classification, he did establish the intellectual framework within which most naturalists up to Darwin worked" (DSB).

This encyclopedia work provided comprehensive coverage of all aspects of natural history, including the realm of minerals. In the first edition, mineralogy was covered in five original volumes together with three supplemental tomes. In this `Nouvelle Édition' the five original volumes have been bound up into two physical books. The minerals are arranged according to a scheme that assigns them to three classes of rock. Namely, (1) those created by primitive fire (=igneous rocks), (2) those created by secondary actions of heat like basalts, lava and ash deposits, and (3) those created by sedimentary processes. The first volume begins with the classification scheme and includes quartz, jasper, mica, talc, fluorite, tourmaline, granite, schist, alabaster, marble, and others. The second volume describes a wide variety of `secondary' types including volcanic ejecta, salts, sulfur, alkalis, niter, borax, iron gold, etc. Volume three contains descriptions various metals and their minerals including lead, copper, silver, mercury, antimony, bismuth, zinc, platinum, cobalt, etc., as well as descriptions of stalactites, quartz crystals, various gemstones, and concluding the volume a tabular arrangement of the minerals according to their physical properties. Volume four contains descriptions of jaspers, concretions, jade, serpentine, turquoise, petrifications & fossils, zeolites, pyrites, hematite, etc. The fifth volume describes magnets and magnetism especially as it applies to the earth's magnetic field. Accompanying this volume are a large number of tables listing various voyages, dates, longitude and latitudes.

Bibliographical references: NUC. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 1036.

13. German, 1784 [Abridged translation].
Naturgeschichte der Mineralien Buffon. Eine freie mit einigen Zusätzen vermehrte Übersetzung [von Christian Ernst Wünsch]. Frankfurt & Leipzig, Verlagskasse, 1784.

8°: ix, 486 p.

Very scarce. Translated by Christian Ernst Wünsch (1744-1828).

Bibliographical references: DSB: 2, p. 579. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: p. 99. • LKG: XII 101a & XIII 269. • Wallerius, Brevis Introductio, 1779: p. 124.

14. Italian, 1778.
Storia naturale generale e particolare per servire di segutio alla teoria de minerali del Sig. Conte de Buffon. Milano, 1778.

2 vols. and a supplement. Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: LKG: XIII 126.

15. English, 1792 [English transl., 2nd edition].
Natural History, general and particular, by the count de Buffon, translated into english ... London, 1792.

9 vols. 8°: Very scarce.

16. English, 1792.
Buffon's Natural History, Abridged. Including the history of the elements, the earth, mountains, rivers, seas, winds, whirlwinds, waterspouts, volcanoes, earthquakes, man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, shell-fish, lizards, serpents, insects, and vegetables. London, Published for C. and G. Kearsley, 1792.

2 vols. [Vol 1] 8°: xl, 353 p. [Vol 2] 8°: 493 p. Illustrated with copper engravings, of which a few are folding plates: 107 numbered plates, engraved title-pages in each volume, and a frontispiece in volume 1. Very scarce.

17. English, 1807 [Another English edition].
Buffon, Georges Leclerc, Comte de Buffons Natural History. London, H.D. Symmonds, 1807-1808.

16 vols. 12°: 130 full page hand coloured plates.

Very scarce. Each volume is signed by Thomas Peacock, who bought the books new and had them bound for his private collection.Containing a theory of the earth, a general history of man, of the brute creation, and of minerals, vegetables, etc. (10 volumes). Together with; natural history of birds, fishes, insects and reptiles (6 volumes). Sixteen volumes uniformly bound in contemporary early 19th Century half leather onto marbled boards; the spines have six gilt edged panels with contrasting red and/or orangey brown title labels with green leather volume indicators. The set is the complete Barrs edition.London, H.D. Symmonds, 1807-1808 respectively. This set contains a total of 130 full page hand coloured plates. 12 mo.A scarce and complete set of this English translation of the famous French work published earlier in Paris: Histoire Naturelle, Generale et Particuliere, Avec la Description du Cabinet du Roi.

Les Époques de la Nature, 1780

2 vols. in one. 12°: [4], 246 p.; [4], 264 p., 6 engraved plates and 2 folding maps. Page size: 166 x 93 mm.

Very rare. One of the great milestones in the history of earth science, in which Buffon suggest for the first time the great age of the earth. Buffon was an extremely influential French natural philosopher whose extensive works included one of the last speculative cosmogonies: Les Époques de la Nature (1778). Beginning with the formation of the Earth, it covered seven epochs in analogy to the seven days of Creation. He proposed that the Earth was hot at its creation and, from the rate of cooling, calculated its age to be more than 100,000 years.

This is the first separate edition, of a text that first appeared in quarto in the fifth volume of the Suppleménts, to Buffon's Histoire Naturelle in 1778. In this 12° edition the notes are incorporated as footnotes (having been relegated to the end of the book in the quarto edition), and there is a new Table Alphabétique.

Bibliographical references: Dibner, Heralds of Science, 1955: 193. • LKG: XIII 127b. • PPM: Printing and the Mind of Man: 198. • Sparrow, Milestones of Science, 1972: p. 23. • Wellcome Catalog (Books): 2, 268.

19. German, 1781 [German transl.].
Epochen der Natur. A. dem Franz. von I.J. Hackmann. Petersburg und Leipzig, 1781.

2 vols. 8°: Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: LKG: XIII 128c.

20. German, 1781.
Epochen der Natur. A. dem Franz. von I.J. Hackmann. Petersburg und Leipzig, 1781.

2 vols. Very scarce.

21. Polish, 1787.
Epochen der Natur. Polish translation. Warschau, 1787.

2 vols. Very scarce.

22. English, 1793.
Epochen der Natur. English translation. 1793.

8°: Very scarce.

23. French, 1804.
Oeuvres. Paris (Crapart, Caille et Ravier), 1804.

Large 8º. ca 3600 S. mit 1 Kupfertafel und 2 gestochenen Faltkarten (Bd.1); 3 Kupfertafeln (Bd. 3); 43 Kupfertafeln (Bd. 4-6); 34 Kupfertafeln (Bd. 7-9).

Very scarce. Complete in 9 volumes which are: (1) Life of Buffon, (2) Histoire des Mineraux, (3) Histoire de l'Homme, (4-6) Histoire des Quardupedes, and (7-9) Histoire des Qiseaux.

16 vols. Very scarce.

25 vols. Together 18 vol., first part with portrait, 4 folding maps (sl. tear at fold, without loss), 213 engraved plates, 1817-18, second part with portrait, engraved title, 115 engraved plates, 1819. Page size: 205 x 135 mm.

Scarce. This edition of Buffon is complete in 12 volumes; it seems not to be in Nissen, though at 2348c & 2350d he has the Lacepede with the same plate collation as here; the plates for this are after drawings by Pretre.

26. French, 1825-8.
OEuvres complètes de Buffon. Paris, A. Eymery, 1825-1828.

26 vol. in-8, basane racinée, dos lisse orné (reliure de l'époque).

Very scarce. Édition illustrée de 245 planches, la plupart en couleurs et du portrait de Buffon. Le Tableau gravé de tous les animaux nouvellement découverts n'a pas été tité pour cette édition. Édition enrichie d'une vue générale des progrès de plusieurs branches des sciences naturelles, et mis en ordre par Lacépède. Augmenté d'un volume contenant le précis des merveilles de la nature, découvertes depuis Buffon jusqu'à nos jours.

27. French, 1827.
Oeuvres complètes de Buffon mises en ordre et précédées d'une notice historique par M.A. Richard, professeur agrégé à l'université de Paris, suivies de deux volumes sur les progrès des sciences physiques et naturelles depuis la mort de Buffon par M. le baron de Cuvier. Paris, Delangle frères, 1827-1828.

34 vols. 8°: With 2 engraved frontispieces, one portrait of Buffon and 193 fine handcoloured engraved plates, 9 plain plates and 4 folded maps. Contemporary red half morocco, richly gilt ornamented spines. A beautiful uniformly bound copy of this large and attractively illustrated edition of Buffon. Page size: 221 x 140 mm.

Very scarce. The fine plates are by Vauthier and engraved by various engravers. 75 of the coloured plates show mammals, and 118 birds. The set is composed as follows: Vol. 1. Discours académiques - Histoire naturelle - Théorie de la Terre; 2. Théorie de la terre; 3-4. Minéraux; 5. Des époques de la Nature; 6-9. Minéraux; 10. Expériences sur les végétaux - Animaux; 11. Animaux - De l'homme; 12. De l'homme; 13-19. Animaux; 20-28. Oiseaux; 29-32. Compléments; 33-34. Atlas. Nissen ZBI, 696; Piveteau 168.

28. French, 1828.
Oeuvres complètes, suivies de ses continuateurs Daubenton, Lacépède, Cuvier, Duméril, Poiret, Lesson et Geoffroy-St-Hilaire. Bruxelles, Th. Lejeune, 1828.

14 vols. 8°: (2) 484; (4) 483; (4) 503; (4) 501; (6) 440; (4) 471; (4) 492; (4) 490; (4) 396; (4) 340; (4) 470; (4) 476; (4) 408; (4) 415. Illustrated with 5 portraits, 2 folding plates, 733 plates of which 437 are hand coloured and some are heightened with gold.

Very scarce. Complete set of Buffon's (1707-1788) "Oeuvres Complêtes". The fine lithographed plates are printed on special paper and many are in beautiful contemporary handcolouring.

29. French, 1838.
Oeuvres complètes de Buffon, avec des extraits de Daubenton, et la classification de Cuvier. Paris, Furne et Cie., 1838-1839.

6 vols. [Vol 1] 8°: [Vol 2] 8°: [Vol 3] 8°: [Vol 4] 8°: [Vol 5] 8°: [Vol 6] 8°: With 1 portrait of Buffon, 5 partly coloured maps and 115 fine handcoloured plates, of which many by E. Traviès. Page size: 260 x 180 mm.

Very scarce. The present work in one of the many edition of Buffon's famous 'Histoire Naturelle' which was planned as a comprehensive iconography of the animal kingdom. The work is composed as follows: Vols. 1 & 2: Théorie de la Terre; Vols. 3-4: Mammifères; Vols. 5-6: Oiseaux.

Bibliographical references: Nissen (ZBI): 700 [quoting an earlier edition by the same publisher].

30. French, 1851.
Oeuvres complètes de Buffon ... cinquième edition. Paris, Societe des publications illustree, 1851.

6 vol., portrait frontispiece, 4 maps in outline colour, 166 hand coloured plates, by Travies and others, tables.

Very scarce. Nissen 702, a later issue.

31. French, 1853.
Oeuvres complètes de Buffon avec la nomenclature Linnéenne et la classification de Cuvier. Revues sur l'édition in-4to de l'Imprimerie Royale et annotées par M. Flourens. Paris, Garnier Frères, (1853-1857).

12 vols. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece, an engraved portrait of Buffon and 163 engraved handcoloured plates. Page size: 265 x 170 mm.

Very scarce. "The title-page truthfully states this to be a new edition illustrated byengravings after drawings by Traviès and Henry Gobin and coloured with the greatest care. It is one of the best editions of this master placed upon the market, albeit among the rarest" (Wood 269). Contents: Vol. I. Théorie de la terre, Histoire générale des animaux; Vol. II. L'homme, les quadrupèdes; Vol. III. Les quadrupèdes; Vol. IV. Les singes, additions aux quadrupèdes; Vols. V-VIII Oiseaux; Vols. IX-XI. Minéraux; Vol. XII. Expériences sur les végétaux, arithmétique morale et Tables analytiques er raisonnées des matières contenues dans l'ouvrage entier.

BUFFON OEUVRES COMPLETES MONUMENTAL OUVRAGE COMPLET EN 12 VOLUMES GRAND IN-8 AVEC LA NOMENCLATURE LINNEENNE ET LA CLASSIFICATION DE CUVIER ANNOTEES PAR M. FLOURENS BELLE RELIURE 1/2 CHAGRIN NOIR A COINS, EN BON ETAT, DOS A 4 FAUX NERFS, TITRES ET TOMAISONS DORES,PLATS (BLEUTES) ET COINS EN BONS ETATS. GARNIER, 1853-1855TOME 1 THEORIE DE LA TERRE 1 frontispice, 2 cartes+ 2 planches rousseurs éparses, un léger accident en tête 681pp+ table des matièresTOME 2 MAMMIFERES I tableaux, tables, 28 planches rousseurs éparses, 2 petits accidents au dos, papier des plats marginalement frottés 664pp+ table des matièresTOME 3 MAMMIFERES II 30 planches rousseurs éparses 594pp+ table des matièresTOME 4 MAMMIFERES III tableaux, 22 planches rousseurs éparses, tres légère griffure au second plat 673pp+ table des matièresTOME 5 OISEAUX I 18 planches rousseurs éparses 592+ table des matièresTOME 6 OISEAUX II 17 planches rousseurs éparses, 2 coins cognés 574pp+ table des matièresTOME 7 OISEAUX III tableaux, 17 planches rousseurs éparses 642pp+ table des matièresTOME 8 OISEAUX IV 17 planches rousseurs éparses 621pp+ table des matièresTOME 9 MINERAUX I tableaux, 4 planches+ 2 cartes 668pp+ table des matièresTOME 10 MINERAUX II rousseurs éparses 568pp+ table des matièresTOME 11 MINERAUX III tables 606pp+ table des matièresTome 12 VEGETAUX tableaux 821pp dont table des matières+ notice sur BuffonAU TOTAL 163 GRAVURES SUR ACIER REPRESENTANT 800 SUJETS COLORIES AVEC LE PLUS GRAND SOIN ; DESSINS DE VICTOR ADAM

32. French, 1866-7.
Buffon. Oeuvres completes avec des extraits de Daubenton et la classification de Cuvier. Lacepede, (Bernard de La Ville). Histoire naturelle de Lacepede comprenant les cetaces, les quadrupedes ovipares, les serpents et les poissons. Nouvelle edition precedee de l'eloge de Lacepede par Cuvier, avec des notes et la nouvelle classification de A.-G. Desmarets. Paris, Chez Furne-Jouvet, 1866-1867.

8 vols. 4°: 782 / 775 / 784 / 653 / 653 / 726 S.; 668 / 647 S. 1 gest. Portrait, 5 Karten und 122 handkolor. Stahlstichtafeln von Werner, Janet-Lange u.a.; 36 handkolor. Stahstichtafeln nach Edouard Travies. Dunkelblaues Halbleder der Zeit mit Rückenvergoldung.

Very scarce. Beautiful, large sized format, with bright hand-colored illustrations. The two supplemental volumes of Lacepede are usually missing from the set. Volume 1: Theorie de la Terre ; Volume 2 : Histoire naturelle des mineraux ; Volumes 3 et 4 : Mammiferes ; Volumes 5 et 6 : Oiseaux ; Volume 7 : les cetaces; les quadrupedes ovipares, les serpents; Volume 8 : les poissons.

Bibliographical references: Nissen (ZBI): no. 2346. • Wood, Literature of Vertebrate Zoology, 1931: 424.

33. German, 1756.
Naturl. Geschichte d. Erdbebens und der feuerspeienden Berge, a. Buffon's Histoire der Natur ubers. Breslau, 1756.

8°: Very scarce.

17 vols. Very scarce.

35. English, 1812.
Natural History, General and Particular. Illus. with over 600 copper plates. The History of Man and Quadrupeds. Transl. with Notes and Observations by William Smellie. A New Edition, corrected and enlarged, by many additional articles, notes and plates; and, Some Account of the Life of M. de Buffon, by William Wood. London, 1812.

20 vols. Very scarce.

36. Russian, 1826.
Vseobsjtsjaja i castnaja estestvennaja istorija St. Petersburg, Akademija nauk, 1826, 1811.

2 parts in one volume. 4°: [4], 374, [4] p.

Very scarce. Russian edition of one of the most popular works in Europe on natural history by George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788). Since it's first appearance at the end of the 18th century, the encyclopedic Histoire Naturelle, had been translated into several languages.

Lettre du Duc de Noya Carafa sur la Tourmaline, à Monsieur de Buffon ... (Paris, 1759).
See under: Carafa, Giovanni, Duca Di Noja.

37. French, 1798-1808.
Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière, par Le Clerc de Buffon. Nouvelle éd., accompagnée de notes, et dans laquelle les supplémens sont insérés dans le premier texte, à la place qui leur convient. L'on y a ajouté l'histoire naturelle des quadrupèdes et des oiseaux découverts depuis la mort de Buffon, celle des reptiles, des poissons, des insectes et des vers; enfin, l'histoire des plantes dont ce grand naturaliste n'a pas eu le tems de s'occuper. Ouvrage ... rédigé par C. S. Sonnini. Paris, Chez F. Dufart, An VIII [1798]-1808.

127 vols., maps, plates, tables. Very scarce.

Contents: t.1-3. Théorie de la terre.-t.4. Époques de la nature.-t.5-16. Minéraux.-t.17-18. Animaux.-t.19-21. L'homme.-t.22-34. Quadrupèdes.-t.35-36. Singes.-t.37-64. Oiseaux.-t.[65]-[72] Reptiles ... par F. M. Daudin.-t.[73]-[78] Mollusques ... par Denys-Montfort ... continué par Felix de Roissy.-t.[79]-[92] Crustacés et insectes ... par P. A. Latreille.-t.[93]-[105] Poissons ... par C. S. Sonnini.-t.[106] Cétacées ... par C. S. Sonnini.-t.[107]-[124] Plantes ... par C. F. Brisseau-Mirbel.-t.[125]-[127] Tables analytiques et raisonnées des matières et des auteurs ... par P. Sue.

Bibliographical references: Nissen (ZBI): 682.

2 vols. Page size: 170 x 100 mm.

Very scarce. This is actually written by Duchesene and Macquer.