Nouveau museum d'histoire naturelle; ou representation fidelle des etres les plus remarquables compris dans les trois regnes de la nature en figures coloriees sur planche. Tome premier. Regne animal.--Classe des quadrupedes vivipares ou mammifer

ALL PUBLISHED of this abortive yet spectacular attempt at a comprehensive survey of natural history, THE FIRST BOOK ON ZOOLOGY WITH COLOR-PRINTED (as opposed to hand-colored) PLATES. Comprises a general preface describing the entire project (by Dufart), an introduction to this volume (by Manuel), 101 GORGEOUS FULL-PAGE COLOR-PRINTED STIPPLE-ENGRAVED PLATES OF MAMMALS IN EXOTIC LANDSCAPES (usually two scenes per plate, after Deseve and other artists), and descriptive notes on each mammal depicted (by Manuel). 30 pp., 101 plates, 60 pp. Dedicated to Napoleon. Text printed on fine wove paper, plates on very fine, thick wove paper. After the appearance of this volume, the project was suspended because the publishers could not find enough subscribers (there is a list of the 24 who subscribed to this first volume on the back of the half-title). The reasons for this failure are obvious: each volume cost a staggering 60 francs (not including the binding) and the images of the animals, although bright, beautiful, and charming, are not particularly accurate. Large thick 8vo. BOUND IN CONTEMPORARY FULL CRIMSON MOROCCO, WITH ELEGANT GILT DECORATION ON COVERS AND SPINE. All edges gilt. Light wear to extremities of binding, but still very attractive. Internally bright. Two copies in NUC. Quérard (La France littéraire, V, 497) doubts the very existence of this work: ".ne paraît avoir été que projeté, car on n'en trouve mention nulle autre part que dans le vol. de M. Debray." An extremely rare, unusual, and altogether stunning book.