Description: , “A Amsterdam, Chez J.H. Schneider”, 1766-1779 [vols. 1-21] & “A Dordrecht, Chez A. Blussé et Fils”, 1799 [vol. 22]. Tog. 21 (of 22) vols. (incl. 7 supplements). With 21 (ident.) engraved title-vignettes, 1 engraved portrait (of Comte de Buffon) by J. Houbraken after Drouais, 4 engraved maps (of which 2 fold.) by i.a. J. van [der] Schley after Robert de Vaugondy, 795 engraved plates (of which 7 fold.) by i.a. J. van [der] Schley & C.F. Fritzsch, 1 fold. engraved table & num. engraved head-pieces. – [TOGETHER WITH:] BUFFON, [G.-L. LECLERC] DE. Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux [..]. Tome 1-9. Nouvelle édition. A Dordrecht, Chez A. Blussé et Fils, 1796-1799. 9 Vols. With 9 ident. engraved title-vignettes & 262 engraved plates (dep. various birds). – [AND:] BUFFON, [G.-L. LECLERC] DE. Histoire Naturelle des Minéraux [..]. Tome 1-5. Nouvelle édition. A Dordrecht, Chez A. Blussé & Fils, 1798-1799. 5 Vols. With 5 ident. woodcut title-vignettes & 8 large fold. engraved maps. – [AND:] LA CéPèDE, [B.G.E.]. DE. Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupèdes Ovipares et des Serpens [..]. Tome 1-2. Nouvelle édition. A Dordrecht, Chez A. Blussé & Fils, 1799. 2 Vols. With 2 ident. woodcut title-vignettes, 63 engraved plates by Hulk & 2 engraved head-pieces. Large 4to (ca. 27 x 23 cm.), late 18th-cent. unif. half-calf, gilt ribbed spine with red mor. letterpiece. (37x), ? Ad 1-4: Nissen (ZBI) 678 & 2350c. Wood p. 267. Landwehr (Col. Plates) 45. Cf. Printing and the Mind of Man 198 (listing the first edition publ. in 1749-1789). Scarce re-edition (printed on LARGE PAPER) of a famous 18th-cent. French work on natural history by the French naturalists Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788) & Louis Jean-Marie Daubenton (1716-1800) illustrated with more than 1.100 engravings depicting i.a. birds, mammals, quadrupeds & snakes. According to a list of subscribers (mentioned in a description of another set) this edition was published in less than 200 copies (with only a very small number of copies printed on large paper). ? Ad 1: Lacks vol. 4. Top of 8 spines (sl.) dam./ torn. Vol. 5 sl. marg. waterstained at the end, occ. sl. foxed/ browned, but nevertheless a good set in good condition. ? Ad 2: Top of 2 spines sl. dam./ torn. Vol. 5 sl. marg. waterstained, but nevertheless a good set in good condition. ? Ad 3: Vol. 5 comprising “Traité de l’Aimant et de ses Usages”. – A few maps sl. torn on fold, but nevertheless a good set in good condition. ? Ad 4: Good set of the continuation of De Buffon’s “Histoire naturelle” by the French naturalist Bernard-Germain-étienne de la Ville-sur-Illon, Comte de Lacépède (1756-1825).