[Conchology] (Dezallier d'Argenville, A.-J.) L'histoire naturelle éclaircie dans deux de ses parties principales,

la lithologie et la conchyliologie, dont l'une traite des pierres et l'autre des coquillages, ouvrage dans lequel on trouve une nouvelle méthode & une notice critique des principaux auteurs qui ont écrit sur ces matiéres [sic]. Enrichi de figures dessinées d'après nature. Par M*** de la Société Royales des Sciences de Montpellier. Paris, De Bure l'Ainé, 1742, 2 parts in 1 vol. w. continuous pagination (8),105,(1); (3),110-491,(1) p. W. engr. frontisp. by Chedel after Boucher and 32 engr. plates. Cont. marbled calf, gilt and ribbed spine w. mor. letterpiece, 4to. Some waterst. to inner blank margin at the beginning, old (crossed-out) owner's entries on title-p. Some handwritten plate numbers in the second part, matching those from the 1757 edition. Spine-ends worn (headband loose), joints starting to split, covers a bit rubbed, and worn at extremities, frontcover w. circular stain. In all a good copy.

Nissen ZBI 144 (mentions an addition w. 3 plates). First edition of this finely illustrated work, the first part (w. 4 plates) on lithology, the second part (w. the rest of the plates) on conchology. DSB I, 243-244: "This work, illustrated with beautiful plates, was a great success. D'Argenville profited from the eighteenth century's infatuation with the natural sciences and, indeed, contributed to this vogue by publishing descriptions of the most notable exhibits of natural history in Paris and the provinces".