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ALBIN, Eleazar (fl. 1713-1759). Histoire naturelle des oiseaux. The Hague: Pierre de Hondt, 1750.
3 volumes, 4° (279 x 230mm). Titles printed in red and black, 306 fine hand-colored etched plates after Eleazar, Elizabeth and Forinalus Albin, by Henry Fletcher and others, engraved headpiece by J. van Schley, metal cut initials and ornament. (Occasional unobtrusive spotting, a few plates with mild offset discoloration, a few plates trimmed close affecting imprint or image.) Contemporary Dutch red panelled morocco with green morocco inlay, central compartment gilt decorated in panels and small tools, spines gilt in 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, tan and brown morocco lettering-pieces gilt, edges gilt and gauffered (extremities lightly rubbed, joints rubbed, a few starting or splitting, small chip to head of spine Vol. I, missing piece laid in, small tear to head of Vol. III, corners renewed). Provenance: J. F. Symons-Jeune (armorial bookplate); Sir Giles Loder Bt. (1914-1999) British book collector (sold Christie's London 2 June 1999, lot 1).
FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH of the first book on British birds to have colored plates. Eleazar Albin came to England from Germany in about 1707, changing his surname from Weiss. He was certainly in London in 1708 when his daughter Elizabeth was born. He earned a living by making watercolor drawings of objects in the cabinets of wealthy collectors such as Sir Hans Sloane, and many of these patrons later subscribed to the Natural History of Birds which first appeared between 1731 and 1738 with plates after Eleazar, Elizabeth and Fortinalus Albin. Anker 6; Fine Bird Books p. 54 (first English edition only); Nissen IVB 16.
3 volumes, 4° (279 x 230mm). Titles printed in red and black, 306 fine hand-colored etched plates after Eleazar, Elizabeth and Forinalus Albin, by Henry Fletcher and others, engraved headpiece by J. van Schley, metal cut initials and ornament. (Occasional unobtrusive spotting, a few plates with mild offset discoloration, a few plates trimmed close affecting imprint or image.) Contemporary Dutch red panelled morocco with green morocco inlay, central compartment gilt decorated in panels and small tools, spines gilt in 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, tan and brown morocco lettering-pieces gilt, edges gilt and gauffered (extremities lightly rubbed, joints rubbed, a few starting or splitting, small chip to head of spine Vol. I, missing piece laid in, small tear to head of Vol. III, corners renewed). Provenance: J. F. Symons-Jeune (armorial bookplate); Sir Giles Loder Bt. (1914-1999) British book collector (sold Christie's London 2 June 1999, lot 1).
FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH of the first book on British birds to have colored plates. Eleazar Albin came to England from Germany in about 1707, changing his surname from Weiss. He was certainly in London in 1708 when his daughter Elizabeth was born. He earned a living by making watercolor drawings of objects in the cabinets of wealthy collectors such as Sir Hans Sloane, and many of these patrons later subscribed to the Natural History of Birds which first appeared between 1731 and 1738 with plates after Eleazar, Elizabeth and Fortinalus Albin. Anker 6; Fine Bird Books p. 54 (first English edition only); Nissen IVB 16.