Moitte ; Haussard ; Ransonnette, Nicolas ; Berthault

Moitte ; Haussard ; Ransonnette, Nicolas ; Berthault

DUHAMEL du MONCEAU, Henri-Louis ; LA MARRE, L.H. de Traité général des pesches, et histoire des poissons qu'elles fournissent, tant pour la subsistance des hommes, que pour plusieurs autres usages qui ont rapport aux arts et au commerce. Paris Saillant & Nyon, Desaint 1769-1772 3 vol., folio: [2]-84-[2]-66-[2]-140, [4]-180-[2]-182/314-[2]-67/192, [2]-315/488-[2]-489/579-[4]-82-[2]-83/130-[2]-131/164-[2]-165/218-[2]-219/252 pp. (anomaly in the 2nd vol. being the second part finishing with an incomplete "suite de la seconde section" missing some of the pp. and pl.). Contemp. half red tinted vellum, marbled paper on covers, spine with raised bands (bumped corners, spines rubbed). Uncut, large margined copies. First and only edition of "one of the finest works on fishing and fisheries in any language" (Westwood, p. 82) by the French naturalist and naval engineer H.L. Duhamel du Monceau (1700-1782). This finely illustrated work, with 208 (of 250) engr. large folding plates by C. Haussard, Berthault, A. Moitte, P.L. Cor, N. Ransonette and others, discusses marine and freshwater fishing, fishing equipment, types of fishing boats, as well as fishermen and their respective clothing. Most pl. animated and with scenic backgrounds figuring boats, cities, villages, castles,... Approximately half of the plates depict marine or freshwater fish, and most plates include scenic backgrounds. This publication was a part of the famous "Descriptions des Arts et Métiers" (1761-1782), published by the French Académie royale des sciences. Ref. Brunet II:871. - Graesse II:444. - Nissen (ZBI) 1186. - Westwood & Satchell 82. - Thiébaud 315. - Not in Schwerdt, Souhart.