![AGASSIZ, Jean Louis Rodolphe (1807-1873). Recherches sur les poissons fossiles. Neuchâtel: Petitpierre for the author, 1833-1843-[1844]. 10 volumes bound in 6. Text volumes with letterpress half-titles and errata leaves in volumes II and III, plate volumes with lithographic half-titles in vols II and IV and lithographic titles, and lithographic table. 402 lithographic plates by Diekmann, Jäger et al. after C. Agassiz, J. Dinkel, H. Nicolet, C. Vogt et al., 318 hand-coloured, 34 folding. (Variable, generally light foxing or browning, occasional inkmarks and early marginal repairs, a few plates with small holes or short tears touching image.) BM(NH) I, p.17; Nissen ZBI 44 (wrongly calling for 149, and not 159 plates in plate vol. II, and querying the presence of plates 24 and 25 in plate vol. IV; the 'Ordre des planches' for that volume notes that 24 and 25 'n'existe pas').](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2003/CKS/2003_CKS_06853_0092_000(064218).jpg?w=1)
Details
AGASSIZ, Jean Louis Rodolphe (1807-1873). Recherches sur les poissons fossiles. Neuchâtel: Petitpierre for the author, 1833-1843-[1844]. 10 volumes bound in 6. Text volumes with letterpress half-titles and errata leaves in volumes II and III, plate volumes with lithographic half-titles in vols II and IV and lithographic titles, and lithographic table. 402 lithographic plates by Diekmann, Jäger et al. after C. Agassiz, J. Dinkel, H. Nicolet, C. Vogt et al., 318 hand-coloured, 34 folding. (Variable, generally light foxing or browning, occasional inkmarks and early marginal repairs, a few plates with small holes or short tears touching image.) BM(NH) I, p.17; Nissen ZBI 44 (wrongly calling for 149, and not 159 plates in plate vol. II, and querying the presence of plates 24 and 25 in plate vol. IV; the 'Ordre des planches' for that volume notes that 24 and 25 'n'existe pas').
[Bound with:]
J.L.R. AGASSIZ. Monographie des poissons fossiles du vieux grès rouge ou système dévinien (old red sandstone) des Iles Britanniques et de Russie. Neuchâtel and Solothurn: H. Wolfrath for the author and Jent and Gassmann, 1844-1845. 2 volumes. Plate vol. with lithographic title. 43 lithographic plates by Bachfeld, Diekmann et al. after Dinkel, Jäger and Sonrel, 34 hand-coloured, 2 folding. Folding letterpress table, letterpress tables in the text. (Variable, generally light foxing or browning, one folding plate with short tear touching image.) BM(NH) I, p.18 (wrongly calling for 42 plates); Nissen ZBI 42 (wrongly calling for 42 plates); Wood p.181.
Together, 6 volumes. Text vols: 4° (330 x 240mm); plate vols: oblong 2° (287 x 435mm). Contemporary half calf by Carss & Coy, Glasgow, spines gilt- and blind-tooled, gilt morocco lettering-pieces (plate volume spines darkened, extremities a little rubbed and scuffed). Provenance: contemporary, tipped-in notes on the binding -- Faculty of Physicians & Surgeons, Glasgow (bookplates; neat shelfmarks on spines).
FIRST EDITIONS. 'ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST AUTHORITATIVE TREATISES, BY THIS FAMOUS NATURALIST, especially valuable as a textbook on European fish fossils' (Wood). Recherches 'contained precise descriptions of more than 1,700 ancient species, together with illustrated reconstructions based on principles of comparative anatomy. This pioneer effort was a model of exactitude, providing future students with primary data relating to zoology, geology, and paleontology' (DSB I, p.73). BM(NH) notes that the Monographie was 'regarded by the author, and given by Engelmann, as a supplement to the Recherches' (I, p.18). (6)
[Bound with:]
J.L.R. AGASSIZ. Monographie des poissons fossiles du vieux grès rouge ou système dévinien (old red sandstone) des Iles Britanniques et de Russie. Neuchâtel and Solothurn: H. Wolfrath for the author and Jent and Gassmann, 1844-1845. 2 volumes. Plate vol. with lithographic title. 43 lithographic plates by Bachfeld, Diekmann et al. after Dinkel, Jäger and Sonrel, 34 hand-coloured, 2 folding. Folding letterpress table, letterpress tables in the text. (Variable, generally light foxing or browning, one folding plate with short tear touching image.) BM(NH) I, p.18 (wrongly calling for 42 plates); Nissen ZBI 42 (wrongly calling for 42 plates); Wood p.181.
Together, 6 volumes. Text vols: 4° (330 x 240mm); plate vols: oblong 2° (287 x 435mm). Contemporary half calf by Carss & Coy, Glasgow, spines gilt- and blind-tooled, gilt morocco lettering-pieces (plate volume spines darkened, extremities a little rubbed and scuffed). Provenance: contemporary, tipped-in notes on the binding -- Faculty of Physicians & Surgeons, Glasgow (bookplates; neat shelfmarks on spines).
FIRST EDITIONS. 'ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST AUTHORITATIVE TREATISES, BY THIS FAMOUS NATURALIST, especially valuable as a textbook on European fish fossils' (Wood). Recherches 'contained precise descriptions of more than 1,700 ancient species, together with illustrated reconstructions based on principles of comparative anatomy. This pioneer effort was a model of exactitude, providing future students with primary data relating to zoology, geology, and paleontology' (DSB I, p.73). BM(NH) notes that the Monographie was 'regarded by the author, and given by Engelmann, as a supplement to the Recherches' (I, p.18). (6)
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