Paris, Theodore Dabo, 1803. Folio (46.0 x 31.0 cm) with one fine engraved portrait by B. Roger and 34 engraved plates. Original blind wrappers.

Rare atlas to this important comparative anatomical monograph by the Dutch physician, anatomist, zoologist, and palaeontologist Petrus Camper (1722-1789) on apes and, particularly, on elephants, manatees, and horses, with some unusual, if not original, views (e.g. the elephant, from below). Also covers frogs, etc. Another novel idea in comparative zoology is the juxtaposition, with the spine as centre, of a human and a horse. "One of the first scholar to study comparative anatomy, Petrus Camper demonstrated the principle of correlation in all organisms by the mechanical exercise he called a ' metamorphosis'. In his 1778 lecture, ' On the points of similarity between the human species, quadrupeds, birds, and fish; with rules for drawing, founded on this similarity,' he metamorphosed a horse into a human being, thus showing the similarity between all vertebrates." (Wikipedia). The plates are by C. Picquenot. Wrapper's edges rather tattered. Plates uncut, some light spotting to a few plates. A good copy. Nissen ZBI, 796. Not in Wood.