The present lot comprises plates originally designed for Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis written by François Levaillant (1753-1824). The plates of exotic birds which illustrate Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis owe much to the remarkable gifts of Jacques Barraband (1767-1809), who was 'considered among the best bird artists of the time [whose] work for Le Vaillant was the climax of his career' (C. Jackson, Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World, Woodbridge: 1999, p.148).