SPALLANZANI (Lazzaro): Expériences pour servir à l'histoire de la génération des animaux et des plantes. Avec une ébauche de l'histoire des êtres organisés avant leur fécondation ; Par Jean Senebier. Genève : Barthelemi Chirol, 1785. - In-8, marbled basane, cold fillet framing the boards, ornate ribbed spine, red edges (period binding). First edition of this major treatise by the famous Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799). This is the work in which he describes his experiments on the artificial fertilization of frog and toad eggs, making him the founder of animal procreation. The edition is illustrated with 3 folding plates. Missing head cover, a few light scratches, first endpaper partly unbound. Edges of first two leaves and last plate browned.