MERIAN (Anna Maria-Sibylla) - RABEL (Daniel). A general history of the insects of Surinam and all Europe... Paris, L. C. Desnos, 1771. 3 vol. in-folio bound in half garnet-red morocco, spines with gilt ornamentation (period binding). Vol.1 : [2] blank pages, [4] pages, 72 pp, [2] blank pages, Vol.2 : [2] blank pages, [2] pages, 72 pp, [2] blank pages, Vol.3 : [2] blank pages, [1] page, 69 pp, [2] blank pages. Adorned with an engraved title and 325 engravings, several of which are enhanced in watercolour in vol.1. Uncommon edition of Maria Sibylla Mérian's two main works, together with Rabel's famous floral treatise first published in the 17th century. The set consists of three volumes, each dealing with a specific theme as follows: Dissertation sur la génération et les transformations des insectes de Surinam - Histoire des insectes de l'Europe - Des plantes bulbeuses, liliacées, caryophyllées. A pioneer in the study of nature and insects, Anna Maria-Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) was an entomologist painter whose work of observation and painting made her one of the first scientists to discover new species of insects and explain the life cycle of some of them through the phenomenon of metamorphosis. She was the first to highlight a vast ecosystem, paying particular attention to the ecological relationship between plants and insects. The daughter of the engraver Matthäus Merian, Anna Maria-Sibylla Merian took up painting with her father-in-law Jakob Marell, a flower painter, and became fascinated by the life cycles of caterpillars and butterflies, as depicted in her drawings. She published her first work on European caterpillars in 1679 (Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung...), which won her recognition from her naturalist peers for its quality. In 1699, at the age of 52, she set off with her youngest daughter on a voyage to Surinam to observe and study the tropical flora and fauna of South America, where she remained until 1701. On her return to Amsterdam, the notes and research from this trip were published in 1705 under the title Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium. Several editions followed, but unfortunately Maria Sibylla died before finalising her engraving work, so her daughter took over the supervision of the publication, which was a great success. A charming copy of one of the finest natural history books of the 17th and 18th centuries. Armorial bookplate of Yvonne Guyot Provenance: Grant Part Foundation Library Binding: Numerous tears in the binding paper on the boards, some spaces have been slightly recoloured in pink. Several stains and soiling to boards Dull edges The corners of the volumes have been renewed with green leather Spines with slight surface epidermis Insulation on spines Inside pages : Oxidation of text paper and plates Freckling and spotting of varying density Scattered restorations of small tears without missing in the margins of certain pages (beginning of vol.1) Some soiling on individual pages Small stain in the upper margin of vol.1 on the last ff, and plates with a slight damage partially to the engraving of plate LXIX. Edge of folded strip of plate I of vol.1 soiled with some missing material Some engravings in vol. 2 lacking some inking Collation: Vol.1: [2] blank ff., [4] ff. 72 pp. 1 engraved title and 72 plates in all, one of which is partly folding and 46 of which have been enhanced or partly enhanced with watercolours Vol.2 : [2] blank ff., [2] ff. 72 pp. and [2] blank ff. 184 numbered engravings on 47 b/w plates Vol.3 : [2] blank ff., [1] f., 69 pp., [2] blank ff. 69 numbered engraved plates in B/W Anna Maria-Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) A pioneer in the study of nature and insects, Anna Maria-Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) was an entomologist painter whose work of observation and painting made her one of the first scientists to discover new species of insects and explain the life cycle of some of them through the phenomenon of metamorphosis. She was the first to highlight a vast ecosystem, paying particular attention to the ecological relationship between plants and insects. The daughter of the engraver Matthäus Merian, Anna Maria-Sibylla Merian took up painting with her father-in-law Jakob Marell, a flower painter, and became fascinated by the life cycles of caterpillars and butterflies, as depicted in her drawings. She published her first work on European caterpillars in 1679 (Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung...), which won her recognition from her naturalist peers for its quality. In 1699, at the age of 52, she set off with her youngest daughter on a voyage to Surinam to observe and study the tropical flora and fauna of South America, where she remained until 1701. On her return to Amsterdam, the notes and research from this trip were published in 1705 under the title Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium. Several editions followed, but unfortunately Maria Sibylla died before finalising her engraving work, so her daughter took over the supervision of the publication, which was a great success. A charming copy of one of the finest natural history books of the 17th and 18th centuries. Armorial bookplate of Yvonne Guyot Provenance: Library of the Fondation de la Grant Part Grant Part Foundation The Grant Part Foundation collection offers a high-quality selection of Asian art, sculpture, paintings and rare books. Nestling on the slopes of Mont Pèlerin in the canton of Vaud, the Grant Part Foundation was born of Madame Yvonne Guyot's desire to create a place of spirituality and learning that would encourage the exchange of knowledge in the 1940s. Yvonne Guyot was born in Le Locle in 1895. A lover of literature and philosophy, she turned to art and studied at the Beaux-Arts in Paris and Rome. Her interest in discovery led her to make many trips abroad, notably to China and India, while at the same time maintaining her attachment to the Grant Part. A central feature of the estate she founded, her personal library is housed in a room dedicated to her, and over the course of more than 70 years it has been enriched with new titles to include more than 4,000 works, many of which are of great interest to the discerning bibliophile. All the works deal with literature, science, spirituality and history, and form the intimate heart of the foundation, which includes the bookplates of Yvonne Guyot and the Grant Part. Piguet Hôtel des Ventes is honoured to be able to auction a fine group of items from this collection, including a 15th-century illuminated manuscript, the first edition of the Encyclopédie by Alembert and Diderot, and several books on botany and entomology, with the uncommon second edition by the scientist Maria-Sibylla Merian as the top lot.