BUC'HOZ (Pierre-Joseph). - Lot 9

BUC'HOZ (Pierre-Joseph). Toilette et laboratoire de Flore, Réunis en faveur du beau Sexe, ou Essai sur les Plantes qui peuvent servir d'ornement aux Dames, & qui sont utiles dans la distillation, contenant les différentes manieres de préparer les Essences, Pommades, Rouges, Poudres, Fards, Eaux de senteur, Liqueurs, Ratafias, Huiles, Eaux Cosmétiques & Officinales, &c. Paris: l'auteur, 1784. - 2 parts in one volume in-12, 162 x 93: (2 ff.), 156 pp. ; (2 ff.), pp. (157)-356. Red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the covers, ornate ribbed spine, inner gilt lace, gilt edges (Belz-Niedrée). New edition of this collection of herbal cosmetic recipes, divided into two parts. La Toilette de Flore gives the composition of numerous essences, ointments, powders, blushes and eaux de senteur, as well as recipes for stain removers. Le Laboratoire de Flore is devoted to liqueurs, ratafias, oils, cosmetic and officinal waters, and more. Born in Metz, Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz (1731-1807) gave up a legal career to study medicine in Nancy, where he entered the service of King Stanislas. A botanical enthusiast, he published numerous works on natural history, including Histoire des plantes de la Lorraine and Histoire naturelle du règne végétal, which won him the approval of the Académie royale des sciences. Along with Dejean's Traité des Odeurs, this is the only 18th-century work entirely devoted to perfumery and cosmetics cited by Wiggishoff in his Essai de bibliographie des parfums et des cosmétiques. It is also the only book on this subject described by the Goncourts in their own collection (cf. La Maison d'un artiste, I, p. 334). A very fine copy in Belz-Niedrée morocco. Also included: - BUC'HOZ (Pierre-Joseph). Toilette de Flore, Ou Essai sur les Plantes & les Fleurs qui peuvent servir d'ornement aux Dames... Laboratoire de Flore, ou Chymie champêtre végétale, Contenant la maniere de faire, avec les Plantes, les Liqueurs, les Ratafias, les Essences, les Huiles, les Eaux Cosmétiques & Officinales, &c., Pour servir suite à la Toilette de Flore. Pour servir de suite à la Toilette de Flore. Paris: Valade, 1773. - 2 volumes in-12, 164 x 99: XVI, 224 pp. ; (2 ff.), 282 pp., (1 f.). Tan basane, ornate spine, green edges (period binding). Second edition. Copy in modest contemporary or slightly later binding. Spotting and wear to bindings, green edges faded, endpapers and title and tomaison pieces renewed, corners restored, minor loss to headpieces. Restoration on a corner and in the margins of a few leaves, scattered foxing. Title leaf of second volume rebacked. Provenance: signature "Durand" and illegible stamp on the first text leaf, probably a mark of approval.