J.A. Uilkens - De Volmaaktheden van den Schepper in Zijne Schepselen beschouwd - 1852-1857

J.A. Uilkens et al. - The Perfections of the Creator - in His Creatures Considered, for the Glorification of God and for the Advancement of Useful Natural Knowledge - Revised and Brought Up to the Present Height of Science

Description
J.A. Uilkens – The Perfections of the Creator in His Creatures Considered, for the Glorification of God and for the Advancement of Useful Natural Knowledge. Revised and brought up to the current height of science.
Leeuwarden, G.T.N. Suringar, 1852–1857.

Attractive and richly illustrated four-volume collection (volumes I–IV) of this extensive Dutch work on natural science, originally conceived by J.A. Uilkens and completely revised and brought up to the scientific knowledge of the mid-19th century by several prominent Dutch scholars.

The four volumes cover an exceptionally broad range of subjects:

Volume I – The heavens and the Earth
Discussions of the Starry Firmament by F. Kaiser, astronomer at Leiden, together with A Natural Description of Our Earth by E.M. Beima.
Dated 1852.
With an attractive title illustration depicting Isaac Newton and Alexander von Humboldt.

Volume II – The atmosphere
Discussions on the air and the atmosphere, completely revised by C.J. Matthes, professor at Amsterdam.
Dated 1856.
With portrait of Christiaan Huygens.

Volume III – The animal kingdom
Natural history of the Animal Kingdom, newly revised by J. van der Hoeven, professor at Leiden.
Dated 1857.
With portrait of Georges Cuvier and numerous zoological illustrations throughout the volume, including mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, anatomical subjects and skeletons.

Volume IV – The plant kingdom
Natural history of the Plant Kingdom, completely revised by H.C. van Hall, professor at Groningen.
Dated 1852.
With portrait of Carl Linnaeus, botanical material and tables, including a folding classification table based on the improved Linnaean system.

A particularly appealing feature of this work is its abundant scientific illustration. Many of the zoological plates are identified as “Houtsneê-druk van Suringar” (woodcut printing by Suringar). Together with the portraits of some of the most important figures in the history of science, they give the work considerable visual appeal.

The four volumes are preserved in uniform contemporary half-leather bindings, with marbled boards and richly gilt-decorated spines with gilt lettering.

Condition:
The four volumes offered are complete in themselves, with their accompanying illustrations and plates. The complete published series consisted of five volumes; volume V is not present.
Bindings show signs of age and use, including rubbing and wear to boards, edges, corners and spine ends; some losses/damage, particularly at the upper spine of volume I. Internally generally good for their age, with scattered foxing and spotting. Some staining/moisture marking, including a more noticeable stain to the title page of volume IV. Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.

A handsome and highly decorative 19th-century Dutch natural-history collection, combining astronomy, geography, meteorology, zoology and botany, illustrated with portraits and numerous scientific representations.
V.I - 301 pp, V.II - 500pp. V. III - 609 pp. V. IV - 458pp.