[Antiquely handcoloured copy] Natuurkundige beschryving der zeën,

door Lodewijk Ferdinand graave van Marsilli, lid van de Koninglyke Academie der Weetenschappen te Parys. Met plaaten. The Hague, by de Compagnie, 1786, (6),XXV,(1);216 p., with engraved frontispiece and 12 numbered plates: 2 maps, 4 folding plates with profiles, 5 tables (4x folding) and 1 plate in the first 40 p. (tables partly uncoloured, partly with coloured details), followed by 40 numbered plates by M. Pool with illustrations of coral and maritime plants, all engravings present per binder's index, in fine antique handcolouring, contemporary halfcalf, ribbed and gilt back with morocco letterpiece, folio.

Very good, untrimmed copy with beautiful wide margins; partly with worm tunnel/ hole in blank head margin; binding with minimal defects. The first Dutch edition of this description of maritime plants and coral by Luigi Ferdinando Conte de Marsigli (1658-1730). It is the first scientific book entirely devoted to the sea, which moreover covers a specific region, i.e. the French Mediterranean coast.