474 - BURTIN, François-Xavier de *Oryctographie de Bruxelles, or Description of Fossils, Both Natural and Accidental, Discovered to Date in the Vicinity of This City*. Brussels: Le Maire, 1784. Folio: engraved title page, 152 pp.; 32 plates (engr. title slightly soiled with marginal water stains and a small tear without loss, restored at the tail; marginal water stains on some folios and plates; occasional spotting; marginal tear without loss, restored on the last folio). Modern Bradel half-vellum binding, marbled paper on boards, untitled (slightly rubbed, some light soiling). Untrimmed copy. First edition of this study on fossils by Fr.-X. de Burtin (1743–1818), medical advisor to Charles de Lorraine and member of several academies in Europe. He was famous for his natural history cabinet and his important collection of paintings. Illustrated with an engraved title page by A. Pris after M.J. Speeckaert and 32 engraved plates depicting fossils and shells by A. Pris, J. Balconi, de la Rue, and others, after Dareaux, M.J. Speeckaert, Balconi, and others; printed in black or sepia ink, 20 of which are hand-colored. Includes an interesting list of subscribers providing information on the natural history collections of various notable figures in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland, including Loménie de Brienne, the Count of Robiano, Gigot d’Orcy, Joubert, and the beloved son of the Prince of Ligne, Charles (“This young nobleman is beginning to assemble a collection of natural history and experimental physics. May his example be followed!”). Ref. Landwehr, Colored Plates, 49. - Nissen (ZBI) 769.