Genve, Barthelemi Chirol, 1785. [iv], xcvi, 413,[i] pp. 8vo (135 x 210 mm.). Half calf with marbled boards (19th century), marbled edges (rubbed; top and bottom of spine damaged; hinges worn). With 3 folded engraved plates by Cagnoni.
First Edition in French of the second part of Spallanzani's "Dissertazioni di fisica animale e vegetabile", one of his most important works, which first appeared in two volumes in 1780 (G-M, 981). The "Expriences"contains Spallanzani's experimental researches on reproduction in animals and plants, in which he demonstrated the role of seminal fluid in generation, as well as his investigations into artificial fertilization, in which he recorded the first case of artificial insemination in a viviparous animal. The annotated French translation of Spallanzani's "Dissertazioni" and "Opuscoli de fisica" (1776, French edition 1777) were very much responsible for the spread of Spallanzani's works abroad. They were prepared by Jean Senebier, the distinguished librarian of Geneva and an important scientist in his own right; see the DSB for an account of Senebier's valuable work on photosynthesis and the experimental method. Senebier translated most of Spallazani's works into French. The first 90 pages comprises: "R
Paris, Maradan, an VIII ; 6 volumes in-8 de VIII - (II) - 311pp. et 2 planches ; (4) - 280pp. et 3 planches dépliantes; (4) - 291pp.; (4) - 272pp.; 2 planches dépliantes; (4) - 309pp.; (4) - 215pp. Orné au total de 7 planches dépliantes.On a relié à la fin de l'Avertissement du traducteur, avant l'Introduction, un feuillet supplémentaire titré Avertissement des traducteurs (pages ntées V-VI), rétablissant ainsi la réalité de la traduction qui est également due à Amaury Duval.
Ex-libris cachet dans un ovale "CB" sur les faux-titre. Reliure frottée, quelques épidermures aux dos, rousseurs éparses, tache d'encre marginale à 2 feuillets du Tome 1, mouillure angulaire à la moitié des feuillets du Tome 6. Le relieur a interverti les Tomes 1 et 2. ( Reu-CO2)