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SONNERAT, PIERRE. Voyage aux Indes Orientales et à la Chine, Fait par ordre du Roi, depuis 1774 jusqu'en 1781. Paris: chez l'auteur, Froulé, Nyon, & Barrois 1782. 2 vols., 4to, contemporary mottled calf, triple-ruled gilt borders, spine gilt in compartments, morocco lettering-pieces (lacking 1 of 4), g.e., spines and extremities very worn, joints cracked, lacking plate 76, pl. 47 in vol. 1 dampstained, small hole to Ff3 in vol. 2 slightly affecting 4 letters, small marginal tear to Gg2, foxing and browning, light dampstaining to gutters of first and last few quires of vol. 2. FIRST EDITION, half-titles, subscribers' list, 139 (of 140) engraved plates, of which 20 double-page, by Poisson after Sonnerat, a finely executed wash copy of the missing plate 76 supplied in its place, woodcut head- and tail-pieces.
The plates of the first volume depict Indian customs and rituals, the second volume being devoted to natural history. Many of the 29 bird species were drawn and described here for the first time: "indeed, for 70 years [Sonnerat's work] remained the most important contribution to the ornithology of China"--E. Streseman, Ornithology from Aristotle to the Present (Cambridge, Mass. and London, 1975); Hill II, p. 578; Nissen/IVB 886; Nissen/SVB 473; Pritzel 8774; Wood, p. 577; Zimmer, p. 597 (vol. 2 only). (2)
The plates of the first volume depict Indian customs and rituals, the second volume being devoted to natural history. Many of the 29 bird species were drawn and described here for the first time: "indeed, for 70 years [Sonnerat's work] remained the most important contribution to the ornithology of China"--E. Streseman, Ornithology from Aristotle to the Present (Cambridge, Mass. and London, 1975); Hill II, p. 578; Nissen/IVB 886; Nissen/SVB 473; Pritzel 8774; Wood, p. 577; Zimmer, p. 597 (vol. 2 only). (2)