Paris, l'Imprimerie Royale, 1777-1789. Eight parts in eight. 4to (25.3 x 19.3 cm). Title pages with allegorical engraved vignettes, numerous engraved head and tail pieces. 3807 pp. ([iii], 148, 335; [ii], xxxviii, 291, [ii]; [iii], 415; [iii], 534; [iv], 553; [iv], 480; [iv], 234, ccclxxiv; [v]-xx, 364). 439 engraved plates [13; 57; 61; 62; 75; 51; 38; 82]; one double-sized table (in Vol. II). Uniform contemporary full tree calf. Spines with five raised bands, rich gilt compartments with floral vignettes, two morocco labels with gilt titles. Marbled endpapers. Marbled edges.

The complete, rare, mammals part of the first 4to edition ("PMM edition") of this large and important series on natural history by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788). Together they form a coherent segment of the whole work. Provenance: On the front pastedowns a bookplate, Bibliothèque du C.en [= Citoyen] Capon, over an older bookplate with coat of arms; small stamp of Gleizes Notre. JMP on titles. Some rubbing to the boards edges and spine ends; several plates toned, but generally clean. An attractive, uniformly bound, unmarked set. Ashworth and Bradley (1984). Theories of the Earth 1644-1830. The history of a genre, 25; Nissen ZBI, 672; PMM 198 (in part); Casey Wood, p. 267.