Straus-Durckheim, H. - Anatomie descriptive et comparative du chat, type des mammiferes en general... - 1848

A very rare, very large work with 26 Elephant Folio plates, on the anatomy of the domestic cat. The author, Hercule Straus-Durckheim (1790-1865) was "an eminent French entomologist, was the author of anatomical works of exquisite precision and fulness of detail. Two of these (his monographs of the anatomy of the cockchafer and of the cat) are permanent classics, of which the influence has aided greatly in raising the standard of zoological works" (Encyclopaedia Britannica). The plates are twice numbered II-XIII, being a double suite - one in lithography and in line engravings of the anatomy (principally muscles and bones) of the domestic cat. Lacking is the single plate 1. Chipped along wrapper edges and fold, with an old repair to inner back wrapper; the plates with only minimal fraying and a few tiny tears in a few outer edges, but in all in a very good, clean condition. Because of the large size, few copies are complete with the original wrappers. Also, with printed "avis au relieur" mounted on the front wrapper verso. In all a very good, rare, and highly interesting item.