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drawing of a bird sitting on top of a branch with long tail feathers
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1621 - Zoology – Ornithology
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Estimate €2,400 - €3,000
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Description
Zoology – Ornithology Audebert and L.P. Vieillot, J.B. Birds with golden or metallic plumage. With 190 engraved plates (including 1 coloured plate). Published by Imprimerie Crapelet for Desray, 1802. 2 leaves, 10 pp., 8 pp., 28 pp., 2 leaves, 128 pp., 40 pp. and plates. Folio. Modern half leather with gilt title on the spine. Nissen, Vogelb. 47. – Anker 14. – Zimmer I, 17f. - Sitwell/Buchanan p. 73. - Wood p. 206ff. - The magnum opus of the French naturalist Jean Baptiste Audebert (1759–1800), his finest work on ornithology. The first part covers the natural and general history of hummingbirds, jamars and prolerops, whilst the second part deals with tree-runners and birds of paradise. Jean-Baptiste Audebert (1759–1800) died whilst this work was being published; it was subsequently completed by Louis-Pierre Vieillot (1748–1831). This work is one of the most important ornithological publications of the 19th century. "He usually engraved and printed his illustrations himself, so that in this respect they are arguably the most perfect. Above all, his *Oiseaux dorés*, the first magnificent depiction of the hummingbird, allowed him to display the full range of his skill. Yet they resemble a collection of paintings more than scientific illustrations” (Nissen, p. 47). – “Audebert died whilst the work was still in progress – the book was originally published in 30 parts – and the work was continued by Vieillot, who also appears under his own name.” (Sitwell/B.) “The plates … are beautiful, and are printed using a method devised by Audebert and already employed in his work on monkeys … The plates depicting the birds are in beautiful colours; in this respect, they are amongst the finest colour prints found in ornithology” (Anker). “One of the earliest and best-known atlases, featuring many beautiful coloured plates” (Wood). – One additional plate bound in. Plate 14 is missing from Volume II. Only occasional light foxing; 1 plate with a few minor paper defects; 3 leaves loose. - A magnificent edition and a fine copy of this groundbreaking 18th-century ornithological work. Zoology – Ornithology – With 190 engraved plates (1 coloured). The principal work of the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Audebert (1759–1800), his finest ornithological work. The first part covers the natural and general history of hummingbirds, jamars and prolerops, whilst the second part deals with treecreepers and birds of paradise. Jean-Baptiste Audebert (1759–1800) died whilst this work was being published; it was subsequently completed by Louis-Pierre Vieillot (1748–1831). This work is one of the most important ornithological publications of the 19th century. “He mostly engraved and printed his illustrations himself, so that they are probably the most complete in this respect. In particular, his *Oiseaux dorés*, the first magnificent depiction of the hummingbird … prompted him to pull out all the stops in terms of his skill. But they resemble more a collection of paintings than of scientific illustrations” (Nissen, p. 47). - One plate additionally bound in. Plate 14 in vol. II is missing. Only very occasionally foxed; 1 plate with a few paper defects; 3 quires detached. - A splendid edition and a good copy of the seminal ornithological work of the 18th century.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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