Bloch, Marcus Elieser - Oeconomische Naturgeschichte der Fische Deutschlands - 1782-1784

This is a set of three incomplete volumes of the first edition, however, with beautiful hand-coloured plates, and all accompanying text, including the list of subscribers, and the index. A number of plates have been removed, but 19 are present, including the allegorical title page, and plates 8, 19, 31, 35, 38, 39, 43, 53, 67, 71, 72, 75, 78, 79, 88, 89, 97, 106 and 107. The leather bindings are from the period (18th century). On the title pages, a stamp in the lower margins has been removed, leaving a rectangular cutout on each. Some text pages loose, some held together in parts, all plates loose. The plates are all fine, with bright and accurate original hand-colouring. They are larger than the text pages and bindings, namely 37 x 24 cm. One (plate 107) has a short tear in the lower right margin, not affecting the printing and colouring. Beautiful 18th century endpapers still present. This work is listed in Nissen, Schöne Fischbücher, 22, and Dean, Bibliography of Fishes, Vol. 1, p. 139.