Details
RENé PRIMEVèRE LESSON (1794-1849)
Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, [1829-1830]; Histoire Naturelle des Colibris, suivie d'un supplément... des Oiseaux-Mouches. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, [1830-1833]; Les Trochilidées ou les Colibris et les Oiseaux-Mouches. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, [1832-1833]. 3 works in 6 volumes (3 vols. text, 3 folders of plates), 8° (234 x 152mm. and 238 x 153mm). Half-titles. 83 (of 86), 65 (of 66) and 66 colour-printed engraved plates, finished by hand, by J.-L.Coutant and Oudet after J.-G.Prêtre, A.G.Bévalet, A.C.Vauthier, Mme Lesson and Z.Dumont. (4 plates lacking, two plates in the second work with extensive repaired tears, occasional small marginal tears to some others plates, text volume of the first work with pp.142-150 and 155-158 supplied in photcopied facsimile.) Text bound in contemporary red half morocco (light scuffing to extremities), plates unbound within thin marbled card wrap-around folders (some tears and repairs), all contained within three morocco-backed half slip-cases, the spines titled in gilt.
FIRST EDITIONS presented in an unusual, but attractive form. Lesson's monographs, with observations about the birds noted in their natural habitat, remained the most comprehensive treatment of the genus until superceded by Gould's magnum opus. Nissen IVB 547-549. Sold not subject to return. (3)
Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, [1829-1830]; Histoire Naturelle des Colibris, suivie d'un supplément... des Oiseaux-Mouches. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, [1830-1833]; Les Trochilidées ou les Colibris et les Oiseaux-Mouches. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, [1832-1833]. 3 works in 6 volumes (3 vols. text, 3 folders of plates), 8° (234 x 152mm. and 238 x 153mm). Half-titles. 83 (of 86), 65 (of 66) and 66 colour-printed engraved plates, finished by hand, by J.-L.Coutant and Oudet after J.-G.Prêtre, A.G.Bévalet, A.C.Vauthier, Mme Lesson and Z.Dumont. (4 plates lacking, two plates in the second work with extensive repaired tears, occasional small marginal tears to some others plates, text volume of the first work with pp.142-150 and 155-158 supplied in photcopied facsimile.) Text bound in contemporary red half morocco (light scuffing to extremities), plates unbound within thin marbled card wrap-around folders (some tears and repairs), all contained within three morocco-backed half slip-cases, the spines titled in gilt.
FIRST EDITIONS presented in an unusual, but attractive form. Lesson's monographs, with observations about the birds noted in their natural habitat, remained the most comprehensive treatment of the genus until superceded by Gould's magnum opus. Nissen IVB 547-549. Sold not subject to return. (3)