Traviès, Edouard, and Jean-Louis Tirpenne

[Les Oiseaux les plus remarquables par leurs formes et leurs couleurs.  Scènes variées de leurs mœurs & leurs habitudes.  Paris: Ledot aîne (or Berrieux) and London: E. Gambart & Co. (or Victor Delarue, c. 1857]



Folio (21  3/8  x 15  in.; 543 x 381 mm). 59 (of 79) fine handcolored lithographed plates after Traviès by Lemercier, Gambart, and others, plus an inserted plate of butterflies from another series by Traviès (see below); lacks plates 60-79, plates with scattered marginal soiling and light foxing.  Publisher's black cloth, front cover gilt-decorated and lettered "Album d'Oiseaux", edges gilt; quite worn, backstrip missing, front free endpaper detached. 

Fine Bird Books 111 (*); McGill/Wood 601; Nissen, IVB 946; Rosnil 2953 

Folio (21 3/8 x 15 in.; 543 x 381 mm). 59 (of 79) fine handcolored lithographed plates after Traviès by Lemercier, Gambart, and others, plus an inserted plate of butterflies from another series by Traviès (see below); lacks plates 60-79, plates with scattered marginal soiling and light foxing. Publisher's black cloth, front cover gilt-decorated and lettered "Album d'Oiseaux", edges gilt; quite worn, backstrip missing, front free endpaper detached.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

First edition.  "Some of the plates are simply wonderful, and are among the best portraits of birds ever painted"  (McGill/Wood).  Part of their charm lies in the backgrounds, which not only incorporate foliage, flowers, and butterflies, but occasionally towers, churches, cottages, and other architectural features; a few show hunters with dogs. 

It appears that this scarce volume was issued in a serial form as a suite of plates, without title-page or text, rather than as a book.  Copies rarely contain the full compliment of seventy-nine plates.  (No complete copy have been seen at auction in the last thirty years).  The additional plate of butterflies in this volume is bound in place of plate 60, althought the plate itself bears the number 60; it is possibly from the suite listed by Rosnil as Oiseaux et papillions, containing ninety-three plates.