Culture
Words by Michel Wlassikoff
Buffon’s “Histoire naturelle”
Buffon published his extensive Histoire naturelle from 1749 to 1804, covering various subjects such as Earth, man, quadrupeds, birds, and minerals. The most prestigious edition, produced by the Imprimerie royale in 36 quarto volumes, is known for its exceptional typography and engraving, featuring the Romain du roi typeface and over 1000 illuminated plates in its luxury edition on birds.
Buffon published his extensive Histoire naturelle from 1749 to 1804, covering various subjects such as Earth, man, quadrupeds, birds, and minerals. The most prestigious edition, produced by the Imprimerie royale in 36 quarto volumes, is known for its exceptional typography and engraving, featuring the Romain du roi typeface and over 1000 illuminated plates in its luxury edition on birds.
Buffon’s Natural History begun in 1749, and whose publication streched until 1804. Buffon had 35 volumes published during his lifetime, including: History of the Earth and Man, Quadrupeds, Birds, Minerals , Supplements. The seventh and final volume of Buffon's Supplements was published posthumously in 1789 by Lacépède. Between 1798 and 1803, he published The History of Fish. The most prestigious edition was produced by the Imprimerie royale in 36 volumes in 4° format (1774–1804). Typeset in Romain du roi, it is a masterpiece of typography and engraving. A luxury edition of The Natural History of Birds (1771-1786) was produced by the Imprimerie royale in 10 folio and quarto volumes, with more than 1000 illuminated plates.
Document: Tome XXXVI (Suppléments VII) : Servant de suite à l'Histoire des Animaux quadrupèdes, 1789
