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Abbé Noël Antoine PLUCHE

Le spectacle de la nature

Chez La veuve Estienne, à Paris 1764 - 1780, forts in-12 (10x17cm), xxiv, 561pp. (2) et xxiv, 468pp. et (4) 576pp. et 599pp. (1) et (4) 596pp. (4) et (4) 571pp. (4) et (4) 555pp. (4) et (2) 436pp. (2) et (4) 388pp. (3), 9 volumes reliés.

A complete copy composed of volumes from several editions, as always for this book. 1764 for the first two volumes, then 1780 for the third, 1764 for the fourth, 1770 for the fifth and sixth, the seventh volume in 1746, and 1770 for the latter two. It is abundantly illustrated with 9 frontispieces, 25 plates for volume I (insects, birds), 36 boards for volume II (plants, gardens), 31 boards in volume III (plants, boats, fish) IV of which many maps, 20 plates for volume V (Mathematics, machines); 30 plates for volume VI (trades); 33 plates for volume VII (typography, trades); or 206 boards, mostly folding, on hard paper or not. It will be noted that the number of boards differs substantially from one copy to the other, and even from one volume to another.

Bindings in full brown veal composed of three sets: the first of volume I to IV in speckled calf, the second in marbled calf of volume V to VII and the last in brown calf, volume VIII and IX. The irons used are also different. A snag with lack in the last box of volume II. A lack at the tail of volume III, iem for volume IV. Tail cap of tome V worn. Lacks at the head of volumes VI and VII. A lack at the tail of volume VIII. Head cap of the IX torn. Friction. Blunted corners. Pretty good together. Some sheets of boards stand out. Only volumes III, V, VI, VII and IX have a false title. Plate IX of volume VII bearing a tear.

A vast encyclopaedic project with a didactic character (form of the interview), The Spectacle of Nature does not only cover the natural sciences, it is the mirror of all that concerns man; chapters on education, housing, different forms of government, religion, clothing, astrology, navy, along with the more traditional chapters on animals, insects and plants.

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