1818-1837. These hand-colored lithographs are from the work entitled Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes avec les figures originales d'apres des animaux vivants, a work produced by the combined efforts of Geoffrey St. Hilaire and Georges Cuvier. Hilaire was a forerunner to later evolutionary biologists, such as Darwin. As his theories grew, his reputation and academic positions followed. From 1798-1801, Hilaire was a member of Napoleon's scientific staff during the attempted conquest of Egypt. After returning to France, he produced Philosophie Anatomique (1818-1822) and this Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes (11818-1837). They are the most important works with which he had a part, as they "were the sounding board through which he developed the most important components of his transcendental biology: the law of connections (‘analogous' organs retain the same connections amongst themselves), the law of permanence (new organs are not created), and the law of balance (the development of one organ is made at the expense of another)." (American Philosophical Society) These magnificent prints are on chain linked, watermarked paper. Framed. #37219. Fine.

Item #27082

Price: $325.00