Book By Antoine Joseph Dézallier d'Argenville: Conchyliology, 2nd Edition Of 1757

- CONCHYLIOLOGY p.1-351 with 29 pl., interpretation of terms p. 353-363, table of contents p.364- 380, appendix p. 381-394 with 3 pl. (+1) - ZOOMORPHOSIS second part, title 1757, p.1-84 with 9 pl (of which this is the original edition). Frontispiece by Boucher engraved by Chedel, plate numbered 1, then 28 plates numbered 2 to 29 + appendix 3 plates numbered 1 to 3 and Zoomorphosis 9 plates 1 to 9, i.e. a total of 41 plates described + the frontispiece 19th century binding, very good condition of the plates, beautiful paper. Dezallier d'Argenville's Conchology is undoubtedly one of the most famous works on this subject and testifies to the enormous vogue of natural history among amateurs in 18th-century Europe. The work will be immensely successful, largely due to the quality of the plates. It was François Boucher who provided the preparatory drawing for the frontispiece engraved by Chedel. The first edition of 1742 had only 32 plates. The second edition contains two parts: Conchology with the appendix and 3 new plates of rare shells that do not appear in all copies, and Zoomorphosis. Dezallier d'Argenville describes in chapter 10 the most famous cabinets in Europe relating to Natural History, including his own and those of the collectors at whose expense he had the plates drawn and engraved.