Dezallier d'Argenville, [A. J. D.] [and J. de Favanne de Montcervelle and G. de Favanne de - La conchyliologie, ou histoire naturelle des coquilles - 1780

This is the complete plate volume (atlas) of one of the most popular and sought-after shell books of the 18th century. It contains an engraved frontispiece, and 80 engraved plates. The fine binding is a 19th-century dark green half morocco over dark green pebbled boards. the spine has four gilt-lined, raised bands and gilt a title; the compartments have embossed borders. Inside we find marbled endpapers, the book block has speckled edges. The full title is: "La conchyliologie, ou histoire naturelle des coquilles de mer, d'eau douce, terrestres et fossiles; avec un traité de la zoomorphose, ou repésentation des animaux qui les habitent: ouvrage dans lequel on trouve une nouvelle méthode de les diviser. Par M. Desallier d'Argenville... Ouvrage considérablement augmenté de planches en taille-douce, qui représentent les figures de plus de deux milles testacées, dessinées d`après nature, accompagnées de descriptions étendues & de remarques sur chaque famille, avec plusieurs tables systématiques & des nomenclatures étrangeres. Troisième édition, dédiée au roi, par MM. De Favanne de Montcervelle pere & fils". The author, Antoine-Joseph Dezallier d'Argenville (1680-1765), was a secretary to the king, and a natural history writer with a keen interest in conchology and related sciences (notably palaeontology and mineralogy). He wrote several treatises including the present work. This edition, known as the “De Favannes” edition, was published long after the author's death (1765). The engraver and publisher Jacques de Favanne(s) de Montcervelle (1716-1770) and his son, [Jaques] Guillaume (1759?-1795?) greatly expanded this edition from the original 1742 edition, which included only 32 plates. This is the complete atlas with all 80 plates, including the first 19 plates now and then found associated with the text volumes. Boards very slightly rubbed at edges; one plate with a few, marginal spots, four plates a bit shorter, three of which with an uneven lower edge, and one plate from before numbers - with the captions and numbers neatly written in an old hand; otherwise, a fine, clean copy with fabulous plates. REFERENCE: Nissen ZBI, 146.