Histoire naturelle des oiseaux
Paris: De L'imprimerie Royale, 1770-1783. First separate edition, 9 volumes complete with 262 engraved plates by De Seve; 4to, marbled endpapers, title-page engravings and illustrations in the text; extremities rubbed and worn, some hinges weak with joints starting, v. 1 missing spine labels, approx. half of v. 9 spine is perished, interior very good and sound, plates are mostly fine and bright; overall, a good set in full contemporary mottled calf with triple gilt rules on covers, insignia stamped in blind on covers (excluding v. 6 & 9), all edges marbled, gilt-decorated spines, red morocco labels lettered in gilt. As noted in Sitwell, a new set of 262 uncolored plates were made for this separate edition of the bird volumes (the plates in the first edition of Histoire Naturelle Generale were by Francois Nicolas Martinet). Sitwell p. 83; Nissen 158; Wood p. 262; Brunet p.1376, Ebert 3131. Item #46110
Price: $2,500.00
