189 - (Pluche, NA). Le spectacle de la nature ou entretiens sur les particularités de l'histoire naturelle ... Vols. 1-8 and 2 duplicates, totaling 11 vols. Mostly Paris, Estienne, 1741-63. With 10 engraved frontispieces by Le Bas after Canot and 273 (of 278) mostly folded copperplate engravings. Small octavo. Contemporary leather bindings (3 slightly differently bound) with rich gilt spines and 2 spine labels (somewhat rubbed and bumped, head and tail ends with small losses, spines occasionally torn).

(Pluche, NA). Le spectacle de la nature ou entretiens sur les particularités de l'histoire naturelle ... Vols. 1-8 and 2 duplicates, totaling 11 vols. Mostly Paris, Estienne, 1741-63. With 10 engraved frontispieces by Le Bas after Canot and 273 (of 278) mostly folded copperplate engravings. Small octavo. Contemporary leather bindings (3 slightly differently bound) with rich gilt spines and 2 spine labels (somewhat rubbed and bumped, head and tail ends with small losses, spines occasionally torn). Cf. Monschein 136ff. - Volumes 2 and 4-8 in the first edition, Volumes 1 and 3 in the 'nouvelle ed.'; Volume 8 in 2 parts. - 'Well known by the educated public, the work played an important role in the education of children of wealthy families and was sometimes even used as a textbook of natural science' (DSB XI, page 43). - Pluche's (1688-1761) importance for the popularization of technical knowledge in the Age of Enlightenment cannot be overestimated. The work was included in the children's book collection of Emperor Franz I of Austria. - Volume 5 is a duplicate, Volume 2 is also a 'nouvelle edition'. - Slightly browned or faintly stained in places, one volume has wormholes in the spine, a few plates are loose.