Dezallier d'Argenville, Antoine Joseph

4to (286 x 218 mm), manuscript title-page, 3 engraved frontispieces, 80 engraved plates after Guillaume and Jacques de Favanne, HAND-COLOURED IN THE STUDIO OF THE FAVANNES, interleaved with manuscript lists of the subjects in each plate, contemporary half russia, joints repaired, some wear at extremities

Joseph Achard, signature on front flyleaf, presumably his manuscript interleavings; G. Price, 1st Fusiliers (18 September 1847 inscription on front flyleaf); Arthur and Charlotte Vershbow, book label

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A FINELY COLOURED COPY, FROM THE STUDIO OF JACQUES DE FAVANNE, AND WITH MANUSCRIPT NOMENCLATURE OF THE SHELLS AND THEIR PRICES IN THE SALE OF THE CELEBRATED COLLECTION OF COUNT DE LATOUR D'AUVERGNE. The plates are taken from the third edition of Dezallier d'Argenville's Conchyliologie, published posthumously by the Favannes in 1780. Below the title there is a pasted-on note by Favanne explaining that this copy was coloured and given to the bookseller Royer. He notes that the present copy is at least as beautiful and as well done, if not more beautiful, as those others that he has supervised and retouched with his own hand for Messieurs De Bure, the publishers of the second edition in 1757. The manuscript title states that the interleaved lists give the names of every shell recognisable from Michel Adanson's classification, along with Linnaean synonyms. Lot numbers and prices from the 1784 sale of Count de Latour d'Auvergne’s collection are also provided.