LETTSOM (John Coakley). Le Voyageur naturaliste, ou instructions Sur les moyens de ramasser les objets d'Histoire Naturelle, & de les bien conserver. Avec des observations propres à étendre les recherches relatives aux connoissances humaines en général. Amsterdam, Paris: Lacombe, 1775. - In-12, marbled tan basane, smooth spine decorated, red edges (period binding). "First edition of Claude-François-Adrien de Lezay-Marnézia's French translation, based on the second English edition, of this interesting work by English physician John Coakley Lettsom (1744-1815). In the first part, the author outlines methods for "taking insects & preserving them for collections, for preserving birds & other animals" and "for analyzing medicinal waters", gives instructions "for transporting seeds & plants from foreign countries, for collecting & distinguishing fossils or earthy, stony, saline, inflammable & metallic substances, for taking impressions from medals & coins", and proposes experiments on the substances contained in the air. In a second part, he gives observations on sciences, antiquities, commerce, mechanical arts, meteorology, zoology, botany, mineralogy, etc. The edition is illustrated with a frontispiece engraved by Boulrois, featuring 7 insects, and enriched, in separate pagination, with a text also translated from English, entitled "L'Art de calmer les flots de la mer, ou épreuves des effets de l'huile sur les vagues de la mer", with extracts from letters by Benjamin Franklin, William Brownrigg and James Farish. A fine copy in contemporary binding, very well preserved. Small worm hole in one spine. Small wetness in upper margin of first few leaves."