Louis Pierre Vieillot | Histoire naturelle des plus beaux oiseaux chanteurs..., Paris, 1805

Louis Pierre Vieillot

Histoire naturelle des plus beaux oiseaux chanteurs de la zone torride. Paris: J.E. Gabriel Dufour, 1805

folio (521 x 332 mm.), large paper copy, half-title, title, 72 fine engraved plates by L. Bouquet after J.G. Pretre, printed in colours by Langlois and finished by hand, contemporary green morocco gilt, gilt edges, marbled endpapers, slight spotting, spine faded

This finely produced work was issued in twelve livraisons from 1805 onwards, but the date of completion is uncertain. It contains descriptions and figures of tropical finches, weaverbirds, and tanagers, the prints being similar in style to those of Audebert and Desmarest.

LITERATURE:

Anker 514; Fine Bird Books, p. 112; Nissen IVB 956; Wood, p. 612; Zimmer, p. 654

PROVENANCE:

Armorial stamp of John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley (1767-1831) (Stamp 1)