Buffon / Daubenton / Cuvier - Oeuvres Complètes de Buffon - 1858-1863

Complete Works of Buffon – Furne & Cie Edition – 1858-1863

Superb collection of 6 bound volumes – Natural History – Daubenton & Cuvier's Classification

⸻

Description

Magnificent complete edition of Buffon's Complete Works, published in Paris by Furne and Cie, booksellers, between 1858 and 1863. This edition is one of the most elegant posthumous reprints of Buffon's monumental work, enriched with excerpts from Daubenton and Cuvier's classification, two essential figures in the history of natural sciences.

The six volumes feature a uniform binding in full red leather, decorated with gilded edges and fleurs de lys on the spine, with titles and volumes in gold lettering. A harmonious ensemble, ideal for an amateur or collector's library.

⸻

Contents of the volumes

Each volume covers a specific part of Buffon's immense Natural History.
• Volume 1 (1858): General Subjects – Theory of the Earth • 782 pages
• Volume 2 (1863): General subjects – Minerals • 775 pages
• Volume 3 (1863): Mammals – I • 726 pages
• Volume 4 (1863): Mammals – II • 784 pages
• Volume 5 (1862): Birds – I • 653 pages
• Volume 6 (1861): Birds – II • 732 pages

⸻

Dimensions and weight
Height per book: 27 cm.
Width: 18 cm
Total weight of the lot: 10.3 kg

⸻

State

Overall good and solid condition for an ensemble of over 160 years.
Details visible on the photos:
Well-preserved reliquaries, with still-bright gilding.
Uniform slices, slightly patinated.
Some signs of use on the dishes (discoloration, marks, scratches).
Clean interiors, pages slightly browned with age (classic browning for the era).
No major tears visible.
Structurally solid ensemble.

Please examine all the photos carefully: they are an integral part of the description.

⸻

History and importance of the work

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Count of Buffon (1707-1788), is one of the most prominent figures of the Age of Enlightenment. His monumental work, Natural History, profoundly influenced European sciences and forms one of the foundations of modern biology.

The 19th-century Furne & Cie editions are particularly sought after for their typographic quality and elegant bindings. They offer a structured synthesis of Buffon's work, enriched by:
Daubenton, a direct collaborator of Buffon, contributed detailed anatomical descriptions.
Cuvier, founder of comparative anatomy, offering a more modern classification.

This blend makes this edition valuable for collectors, book lovers, and science history enthusiasts.

The shipment will be handled with the utmost care and tracking.