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several books are stacked on top of each other on a white surfacetwo birds that are sitting on a tree branchtwo birds that are sitting on a tree branchan open book with a picture of two birds sitting on a tree branchan open book with a black and white title on it
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109 - BUFFON (Georges-Louis-Marie Le Clerc, known as the Count of)
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Estimate €18,000 - €25,000
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Description
BUFFON (Georges-Louis-Marie Le Clerc, known as the Count of) Paris, Royal Printing Office, [later] Following the edition of the Royal Printing Office, 1770–1786. Natural History of Birds. 13 vols. in-4 (30 x 22.5 cm), marbled calfskin, gilt decorative borders on the covers, plain spine decorated with gilt motifs, mottled edges (contemporary bindings). An exceptional deluxe edition in large quarto format, richly illustrated with 1,008 copperplate engravings enhanced with watercolours. Our edition includes the 35 additional plates, depicting insects and corals. Complete sets of these plates are rare; they do not correspond to the text of the work and are not listed in the tables. *The Natural History*, published between 1749 and 1804, comprises 36 quarto volumes illustrated with copperplate engravings and consists of five parts: *The General and Particular Natural History, with a Description of the King’s Collection* (1749–1767), The Natural History of Birds (1770–1783), Supplements to the General and Particular Natural History (1774–1789), and The Natural History of Fishes (1798–1803). *The Natural History of Birds* remains the most famous and sought-after part. Other editions were published during Buffon’s lifetime. The best known is the deluxe edition of *The Natural History of Birds*, produced by the Royal Printing House in 10 volumes, in folio and quarto formats. It comprises 1,008 plates engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet and delicately hand-coloured. This edition is the only one to have benefited from a deluxe print run, whose watercolour-enhanced plates are prized for their number and finesse. ‘This edition was certainly the most ambitious and comprehensive bird book to have appeared at the time of its publication, and still ranks as one of the most important of all bird books from the collector’s point of view’ (Sitwell). A magnificent copy of one of the finest and most important works on ornithology. Volume 4 of the text is missing; two headbands are missing; six headbands are damaged; corners are rubbed; the spine is slightly rubbed; there are a few tears in the endpapers; some volumes have weak stitching. Bibliography: Anker, *Bird books*, no. 76. Brunet, I, col. 1376. Sander, *Les Livres illustrés français du XVIIIe*, 260. Cohen-Ricci, 194. Nissen, *DIV*, no. 158. Ronsil, no. 413. Roger and Genet-Varcin, nos. 123 and 219. Sitwell, Buchanan and Fisher, *Fine Bird Books, 1700–1900*, p. 83. In French in the text, no. 152.
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About the sale Books, Manuscripts & Antique Engravings, including the José Luis Dotti Library
Auction location
Auction time 09/23/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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