PLUCHE (Noël). Le spectacle de la nature. Paris, Veuve Estienne, 1732-1751; 8 volumes in 9 vol. in-12 (166 x 94 mm), fawn calf, ribbed spines decorated with gilded fleurons and dotted lines (Period bindings). Encyclopaedia of all natural and technical knowledge useful to an honest man. 6 frontispieces and 165 plates, most of them folding. One chapter deals with vines and wine, beer and cider, with plates showing the various presses. Volume II is mainly devoted to trees, flowers and gardens, illustrated by Madeleine Basseporte, a brilliant pupil of Aubriet's, with 8 plans of flowerbeds; the description of numerous trades gives an overview of the arts and techniques in the mid-eighteenth century: ice-making in Saint-Gobain, olive oil production in Provence; velvet, tapestry, ribbon and furs making, scientific instruments, etc., sometimes with the addresses of specialists. The work was a great success and was reprinted many times, with the number of plates varying from date to date. A very fine copy in very elegant fawn calf bindings (4 headpieces are slightly missing).