BUCHOZ (Pierre-Joseph). Collection précieuse et enluminée des fleurs les plus belles et les plus curieuses qui se cultivent dans les jardins de la Chine que dans ceux de l'Europe. Paris, Lacombe et chez l'auteur, Debure l'aîné et chez l'auteur, s.d. [ca. 1780]. 2 vol. in-folio bound in full contemporary hardback. Uncommon edition of this remarkable engraved floral suite, complete in two volumes and comprising 199 (/200) superb plates, here unenhanced. The work is one of Buchoz's most accomplished creations, emblematic of the European taste for botanical exoticism and chinoiserie in the 18th century. Each plate depicts an isolated ornamental flower, sometimes embellished with an insect or a bird, from Europe or Asia, sometimes with stylised captions in Chinese characters, often fanciful, which contribute to the visual presentation of the dreamed-of Orient. The present edition, distinct from the one dated 1776 and enriched with a greater number of plates, is unusual in that it was published under two different addresses: Lacombe for the first volume, Debure l'aîné for the second - a sign of a staggered publication. The engraved table at the end of the second volume confirms a total of 200 plates (plate 99 is missing from Vol.1). A rare copy in this complete configuration. Good condition Binding: Ex-works boards with spotting and rubbing Unstained spine with title and tomation labels The seam of the last quire of volume 2 is Inside pages: Generally very clean One rare freckle Collation: T1: 99 plates numbered 1 to 100 (plate 99 is missing), some numbered in Roman numerals, others in Arabic numerals. Plate 99 is missing from the book. T2: 100 plates numbered I to C Several are captioned in Chinese (these are more whimsical sinological signs than Chinese characters forming real scientific words).