Buache, Philippe; Essai de Geographie Physique, Ou l’on Propose des Vues Generales sur l’espece de Charpente du Globe, Composee des Chaines de Montagnes qui Traversent les Mers Comme les Terrer; avec Quelques Considerations Particulieres sur les Differens Bassins de la Mer, & sur sa Configuration Interieure. Mem. l'Acad. Royale des Scinces, Paris, 1752. Quarto, pp. 399-416, 2 folded engraved maps titled "Planisphere physique ou l'on voit du Pole Septentrional ce que l'on connoit de Terres et de Mers, avec les grandes chaines de Montagnes....” with 1752 date. & Carte Physique et Profil du Canal de la Manche et d'une partie de la Mer du Nord....de la Mer Avec les Terreins de France et d’Angleterre"...with 1752 date.
The work is complete and in a modern archival folder with paper title label on cover. The binding is tight and clean, the text and two maps are exceptionally clean and bright. In very good condition.
A prominent French geographer, Buache (1700-1773) was trained under the geographer Guillaume Delisle, whose daughter he married, and whom he succeeded in the Académie des sciences in 1730 after being nominated first geographer of the King in 1729.
He established the division of the world by seas and river systems and strongly believed in the existence of a southern continent. In 1754, he published an "Atlas Physique” which in part contained many of his earlier writings and maps which had first appeared in the Mem. l'cad. Royale des Scinces. His writings on mountains chains and rivers always contained beautifully detailed maps.