Pierre Bulliard | Herbier de la France. Paris, 1780 [-93], 15 volumes, folio, contemporary pink boards

Pierre Bulliard

Herbier de la France, ou Collection complette des Plantes Indigènes de ce Royaume. Paris: chez l'Auteur, Didot Jeune..., 1780 [-1793]

15 volumes, folio (345 x 255mm.), colour-printed frontispiece, 602 colour-printed engraved plates, 4 engraved plates (2 plates of 'Observations microscopiques' (one coloured), and 2 plates 'Tableaux des Genres'), and 12 engraved tables, contemporary pink boards, leaves uncut, plates 601 and 602 loosely inserted at end, extremities rubbed

The present work is one of the most interesting colour-printed natural history works. The fine, delicate plates are by Bulliard who drew, engraved, and colour-printed the plates himself, using the Le Blon-Gauthier method. Of the 600 plates, 382 show fungi.

As usual it does not contain the second volume of the text of the Histoire des champignons de la France', for this part was published posthumously by Ventenant in 1812 and was destroyed by fire soon after printing and is found in only a few copies.

As usual it does not contain the second volume of the text of the Histoire des champignons de la France', for this part was published posthumously by Ventenant in 1812 and was destroyed by fire soon after printing and is found in only a few copies.

LITERATURE:

Great Flower Books, p. 52; Nissen BBI 296; Dunthorne 70; Stafleu & Cowan 905-912; Junk, Rara, p. 176; Volbracht 300

PROVENANCE:

Dr. J. R. Chapuis, bookplate; Christie's New York, 24 June 2009, Lot 35