Cours élémentaire de paléontologie et de géologie stratigraphiques.

Paris, Victor Masson, 1849-1852. Two volumes in three. 8vo (17.3 x 10.7 cm). 1,147 [299; 848] pp.; 793 [165; 628] woodcuts in the text; folded table. Uniform contemporary quarter calf over marbled boards. Spines with five raised bands and two black morocco labels with gilt title and volume number. Marbled endpapers. Speckled edges. = An important work by the father of French palaeontology: the explorer, malacologist, botanist, and geologist Alcide Charles Victor Dessalines d'Orbigny (1802-1855). DSB: 'With the publication of Prodome and of another basic work with similar aims, Cours élémentaire de paléontologie et de géologie stratigraphiques (1849-1852), d'Orbigny established the close and enduring connection between invertebrate palaeontology and stratigraphic geology that has proved so fruitful for both disciplines'. The text volumes are profusely illustrated. As often, the quarto tableaux are not included. The second volume has continuous pagination, thus the claim by a Spanish bookseller that there are 382 additional pages is incorrect. Old owner's name and acquisition note (in pencil) on the half-title of volume 1, scattered light, mostly marginal spotting, otherwise a very good, clean set. Rare. DSB vol. 10, p. 222; Ward and Carozzi, 1684.