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Lot 266
19th C. European Engravings HN Zoologie: Poissons (17)
Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Etienne Geoffrey de Saint Hilaire (French, 1772-1844) and Henri Joseph Redoute (Belgian, 1766-1852). 17 copperplate engravings of fish for "H.N. Zoologie Poissons du Nil" - published in Paris, ca. 1809-28. Seventeen 19th century large-scale original engravings of fish - plates 1,2 and 6 through 17 - engraved by Henri Joseph Redoute for French naturalist Etienne Geoffrey de Saint Hilaire's contribution to Napoleon's expedition to Egypt in 1812. Each is rendered with realistic anatomy and labeled with the names of the species. Saint Hilaire accompanied Napoleon on his conquest of Egypt in 1798 and made contributions to the 24 volumes of the Description de l'Egypte (1809-28) having made observations of various mammals, reptiles, and fish. Size: 27.75" L x 21.5" W (70.5 cm x 54.6 cm)

Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French biologist who established a theory of "unity of composition". This principle postulated a major theme of comparative anatomy - that there is a single structural plan shared by all animals. Geoffroy also founded teratology which is the study of animal malformation. Geoffrey initially earned a law degree in 1790 and then studied medicine under Louis Daubenton. The next year, Daubenton appointed Geoffroy as superintendent of the cabinet of zoology at the Jardin des Plantes, a predecessor of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Geoffroy also accompanied Napoleon on his conquest of Egypt in 1798, contributing to the 24 volumes of the Description de l'Egypte (1809?28; Description of Egypt). He later would transport specimens collected in Egypt to France. Following his appointment as Professor of Zoology at the University of Paris in 1809, his research established a "unity of organic composition". Upon attempting to apply this notion to invertebrates in 1830, French naturalist Georges Cuvier disputed his theory. Geoffroy's theory would create a receptive audience for Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory, but Cuvier opposed evolution.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection acquired in LA

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#177222

  • Condition: Expected age wear with toning, stains, nicks/tears to peripheries as shown. Imagery and text are still vivid.

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