JARDIN DES PLANTES, LE. Complete, historical... - Lot 41 - Audap & Associés

JARDIN DES PLANTES, LE. Complete, historical and picturesque description of the Museum of Natural History. Paris, L. Curmer, [1842-1843]; two parts in 2 large vol. in-8, contemporary bindings in lemon morocco, gilt fillets and large romantic plate on boards, spines decorated with gilt motifs, gilt edges (as in the gilt on the boards, spines decorated with gilt motifs, gilt edges (Corfmat). First edition of this beautiful work by Pierre Bernard, L. Couailhac, and especially Emmanuel Le Maout. It inventories the curiosities of the Menagerie, the Greenhouses, the mineralogy galleries and the Swiss Valley. The second volume is subtitled "Birds, Reptiles, Fish, Insects and Crustaceans". THE ILLUSTRATION INCLUDES 108 WOOD OR METAL ENGRAVED PLATES, of which 32 are HAND-ENAMELLED WITH FLOWERS, BIRDS AND EXOTIC INSECTS. There are also numerous woodcut vignettes in the text, some of which were previously raised in watercolour. A MAGNIFICENT COPY. The two volumes in lemon morocco are decorated with a large and very nice romantic gilt plate. A few isolated faint freckles. Corfmat worked notably for Queen Marie-Amélie and for the Duke of Nemours.