[NATURAL HISTORY]. GLEICHEN, Wilhelm Friedrich von (1717-1783). Dissertation sur la generation, les animalcules spermatiques, et ceux d'infusions. Paris: de l'Imprimerie de Digeon, An VII [1799].

4to (270 x 210 mm). Half-title; 31 engraved plates (9 folding, 2 with hand-coloring), 2 engraved tables. Modern quarter green morocco.

FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH, translated from the German edition of 1778. Gleichen von Russworm, a self-educated scientist, was influenced to take up the microscope in 1760 when he met Martin Ledermüller. His work describes his pioneering use of phagocytic staining in his research to study animal tissues, a technique which would not be commonly used until the 19th century. Garrison-Morton 2465; Nissen ZBI 1590.

Property from the Collection of Norman and Florence Blitch