Paris, A. Belin, 1819-1829. Large folio (approximately 53 x 35 cm). Five plates with explanatory text leaves. Not bound, as issued.

Rare part of a magnificent publication with fine large plates of mammals from all over the world. The authors, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1772-1844) and Fréderic Cuvier (1769-1832) were the leading authorities in mammalogy in the first half of the 19th century, and the Histoire Naturelle des Mammifères is widely regarded as their magnum opus. This section contains the Australian marsupials - a very little-known group then. It includes "Le wumbat" (wombat); "Kanguroo, ou macrope géant" (two plates, one with the red kangaroo, the other with the grey kangaroo); Kanguroo ou halmature thétis" (probably a "wallaroo"); and "Phalanger de Cook" (Australian ring-tailed possum). All as issued, without stamps, annotations or other markings. All text leaves and all plates uncut and untrimmed, resulting in very large margins. Due to these large margins some edges a bit frayed or with minor tears. Two plates irregularly age-toned, a few text pages spotted. In all, a set in very good condition. Brunet II, p. 1,536; Nissen ZBI, 1525; Wood, p. 354.