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PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF ANDREE BEAUCHAMP STEARNS
BUFFON, George-Louis-Marie Leclerc, Comte de (1707-1788). Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. Paris: Imprimerie Royale, [1770-1786].
Details
BUFFON, George-Louis-Marie Leclerc, Comte de (1707-1788). Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. Paris: Imprimerie Royale, [1770-1786].
10 volumes in 5, 2o (486 x 340 mm). 1008 FINE HAND-COLORED PLATES, (including the 35 non-ornithological plates), drawn and engraved by François Nicolas Martinet under the supervision of Edme Louis Daubenton. (41 plates including plates 1-11, 25, 27, 29, 31, 34, 37, 129 and 985-1008 cut along print margin and inlaid to size, but becoming loose, some volumes with light dampstaining to lower outer corner, light offsetting to some plates, a few minor marginal tears.) Contemporary marbled boards, spines with gilt lettered morocco label (some wear and chipping to joints and edges, upper corner of vol. I with old repair).
FIRST EDITION, A TALL COPY OF ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST IMPORTANT LANDMARKS IN THE HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY. "One of the most important of all bird books from the collector's point of view" (Fine Bird Books). In 1765 Daubenton the younger, at Buffon's instigation, commenced the publication of the plates. By 1780 or a little later 42 cahiers (with 1008 plates) had appeared, in no particular order, and without text. The evident intention was that the plates should illustrate the ornithological volumes of Buffon's Histoire naturelle generale. (44 vols., 1749-1804): this proved impossible because of the limited edition of the colored plates. A new set of 262 black-and-white plates were prepared for the nine ornithological volumes of the Natural History, and Buffon simultaneously produced, the above special edition. Anker 76; Fine Bird Books 83; Mengel 411; Nissen IVB 158; Zimmer 104. (5)
10 volumes in 5, 2
FIRST EDITION, A TALL COPY OF ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST IMPORTANT LANDMARKS IN THE HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY. "One of the most important of all bird books from the collector's point of view" (Fine Bird Books). In 1765 Daubenton the younger, at Buffon's instigation, commenced the publication of the plates. By 1780 or a little later 42 cahiers (with 1008 plates) had appeared, in no particular order, and without text. The evident intention was that the plates should illustrate the ornithological volumes of Buffon's Histoire naturelle generale. (44 vols., 1749-1804): this proved impossible because of the limited edition of the colored plates. A new set of 262 black-and-white plates were prepared for the nine ornithological volumes of the Natural History, and Buffon simultaneously produced, the above special edition. Anker 76; Fine Bird Books 83; Mengel 411; Nissen IVB 158; Zimmer 104. (5)