Histoire naturelle comprenant les cétacées, les quadrupèdes ovipares, les serpents et les poissons. Nouvelle édition [...].

2 vols, 8vo; 36 pls (complete with plates, text n.c., some occ. foxing).

Contemp. half blue calf, flowered brown cloth, marbled edges matcing endpapers, flat spines richly gilt-tooled with monogram "C.J.H." at bottom (1 hinge partly split, edges of boards sl. faded).

Highly sought after edition for the 36 hand-coloured and part. lacquered plates figuring cetaceans, snakes, fish and sometimes dramatic scenes (whale fishing, crocodile devouring an African boy, boa smothering a gazelle, etc.). With a praise by Cuvier about Lacépède and notes by Desmarest. Joined: Description des arts et métiers, faites ou approuvées [...]. Nouvelle édition publiée avec des observations [...] par J.E. Bertrand. Neuchatel, Soc. typographique, 1779, 4to contemp. half calf (worn, dulled...). (Tog. 2 works in 3 vol.)