Duhamel du Monceau, Henri Louis

Traite des arbres fruitiers .... Nouvelle edition augmentée d'un grand nombre d'espèces de fruits obtenus des progrès de la culture, par A. Poiteau et P. Turpin.  Paris and Strasbourg: F. G. Levrault, [1807–1835] 



64 (of 72) parts in 7 volumes, folio (20 x 13  1/4  in.; 508 x 337 mm).  378 fine stipple-engraved plates printed in colors and finished by hand after A. Poiteau and P. Turpin by Bouquet and others, original pink printed wrappers for 57 of the parts bound in; no general title-page, scattered foxing, browning and offsetting, small inked MHS stamp on plates.  Half calf, spines with gilt lettering-pieces, marbled boards and endleaves; some wear and rubbing. 

Dunthorne 192; Great Flower Books,  p. 55; Nissen, BBI 551; Stafleu & Cowan 1548

Traite des arbres fruitiers .... Nouvelle edition augmentée d'un grand nombre d'espèces de fruits obtenus des progrès de la culture, par A. Poiteau et P. Turpin. Paris and Strasbourg: F. G. Levrault, [1807–1835] 64 (of 72) parts in 7 volumes, folio (20 x 13 1/4 in.; 508 x 337 mm). 378 fine stipple-engraved plates printed in colors and finished by hand after A. Poiteau and P. Turpin by Bouquet and others, original pink printed wrappers for 57 of the parts bound in; no general title-page, scattered foxing, browning and offsetting, small inked MHS stamp on plates. Half calf, spines with gilt lettering-pieces, marbled boards and endleaves; some wear and rubbing.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A large paper copy of the finest work on fruit ever published, with magnificent plates after Poiteau and Turpin.  Although this series takes its title from Duhamel's Traité of 1768, it is an independent work and was intended as Poiteau and Turpin's homage to the earlier work.  A team of over twenty engravers was involved.  The color printing was by Langlois, the great French color-printer who supervised much of Redoute's work.

Duhamel du Monceau (1700–1782), in addition to be ing one of the great botanists and gardeners of the eighteenth century, was also a member of the Academie des Sciences, and Inspecteur général de la Marine.  His Traité complet des bois et des forêts (1755–1767) was his first major treatise on trees.  With the Traité des arbres fruitiers, he turned his attention to fruit trees in particular.  Antoine Poiteau (1766–1854) and Pierre Jean François Turpin (1774–1840) both trained botanists as well as illustrators.