Amsterdam, F. Houttuyn, 1761-1785. Three sections in 37 volumes. 8vo (21.4 x 13.1 cm). With 296 finely hand-coloured engraved plates (several very large, double-folded). Contemporary uniform polished half calf over speckled boards; spine with gilt bands and two burgundy morocco labels with gilt title.

A complete set - in the rare originally coloured edition - of the main Dutch natural history encyclopedia of the 18th century compiled by the Dutch medical doctor and naturalist Martinus - or Maarten - Houttuyn (1720-1798) and often referred to as the Linnaeus Houttuyn edition. The three sections are divided as follows: section I: Zoology in 18 volumes with 143 plates; section II: Botany in 14 volumes with 105 plates, illustrating 275 species of plants and "including well over 100 new species of plants" (Stafleu); section III: Minerals in five volumes with 48 plates. As noted by Stafleu, "The taxonomic part of the book is extremely detailed and contains a wealth of incidental information not brought together in this form elsewhere", not even by Linnaeus himself. Includes the 30-page addition in volume 8. Bindings a bit rubbed, some fraying at spine tops; two tears into the figure of zoology plate XVI; plate LXXXVI placed opposite p. 344, not 244 as stated in the binding instructions; some, mostly quite light, marginal damp-staining, mostly to the top margins, and some spotting; foot of spine of six volumes toned, otherwise a fine and complete set. The original colouring is excellent. An attractive set regarding both the bindings and contents. Uncoloured sets in this good complete state are rare; an originally hand-coloured set like this one, even more so. See Nissen ZBI, 2011; Soulsby, 73; Stafleu Linnaeus and the Linnaeans, pp. 175-176; Stafleu and Cowan, 3080; Vanzolini, pp. 1-2.