LEVAILLANT, François. Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique . Paris: J.J. Fuchs and Delachaussée, [1796-] 1799-1808. 6 volumes, large 2° (520 x 325mm.). Half-titles, 300 FINE ETCHED PLATES EACH IN TWO STATES, both printed in colour and finished by hand and uncoloured, by C.M. Fessard and J.L. Perée after J.L. Reinold. (Very light offsetting of uncoloured states onto tissue guards, light spotting to titles and half-titles of volumes V and VI.) Crimson morocco gilt, covers with borders of stylised foliage roll-tools, central gilt arms of Beriah Botfield on upper and lower covers, spine gilt in seven sections, tooled in elaborate floral designs, lettered in gilt, g.e, by C. Smith (spines lightly faded). FIRST EDITION. A magnificent copy of "by far the most important ornithological work on Africa published up to this period" (Mendelssohn). The work was published in both 4° and 2° formats in 51 parts, the printing directed initially by J.B. Audebert and continued by Langlois. Levaillant (1753-1824) was the son of the French consul to Dutch Guiana, and through him acquired a love of travel; his interest in natural history began at an early age, and in 1779 he set off on his first trip to southern Africa, arriving in Cape Town in March 1781. He completed his first six-month trip of the Veldt the following year, and began a second trip in 1783 travelling north up the Orange River. On his return to France he was imprisoned by the revolutionaries, but survived and returned to his estate of La Noue in Champagne, where he wrote and popularized the exotic fauna that he loved. Anker 298; Fine Bird Books 90; Mendelssohn 1, 892; Nissen IVB 555; Zimmer 391. (6)
LEVAILLANT, François. Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique . Paris: J.J. Fuchs and Delachaussée, [1796-] 1799-1808. 6 volumes, large 2° (520 x 325mm.). Half-titles, 300 FINE ETCHED PLATES EACH IN TWO STATES, both printed in colour and finished by hand and uncoloured, by C.M. Fessard and J.L. Perée after J.L. Reinold. (Very light offsetting of uncoloured states onto tissue guards, light spotting to titles and half-titles of volumes V and VI.) Crimson morocco gilt, covers with borders of stylised foliage roll-tools, central gilt arms of Beriah Botfield on upper and lower covers, spine gilt in seven sections, tooled in elaborate floral designs, lettered in gilt, g.e, by C. Smith (spines lightly faded). FIRST EDITION. A magnificent copy of "by far the most important ornithological work on Africa published up to this period" (Mendelssohn). The work was published in both 4° and 2° formats in 51 parts, the printing directed initially by J.B. Audebert and continued by Langlois. Levaillant (1753-1824) was the son of the French consul to Dutch Guiana, and through him acquired a love of travel; his interest in natural history began at an early age, and in 1779 he set off on his first trip to southern Africa, arriving in Cape Town in March 1781. He completed his first six-month trip of the Veldt the following year, and began a second trip in 1783 travelling north up the Orange River. On his return to France he was imprisoned by the revolutionaries, but survived and returned to his estate of La Noue in Champagne, where he wrote and popularized the exotic fauna that he loved. Anker 298; Fine Bird Books 90; Mendelssohn 1, 892; Nissen IVB 555; Zimmer 391. (6)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
