"Collection d'oiseaux les plus rares graves et dessines d'apres nature, pour servir d'intelligence a l'histoire naturelle et raisonnee des differens oiseaux qui habitent le globe....Pour servir de suite a l'Histoire des Insectes & Plantes de Mademoiselle de Merian"
Collection d'oiseaux les plus rares graves et dessines d'apres nature, pour servir d'intelligence a l'histoire naturelle et raisonnee des differens oiseaux qui habitent le globe....Pour servir de suite a l'Histoire des Insectes & Plantes de Mademoiselle de Merian
Volume:
3 parts in one volume
Publisher/ Year:
Paris, L. C. Desnos, 1772
Size:
51.0 x 34.0 cm (20.1 x 13.4 inches), Imperial Folio
Collation:
1 Frontspiz, 2 nn. l., 64 p., 1 l
Illustrations:
85 copper engravings
Cover:
Full leather binding with gilt on spine (Some rubbing and damage at spine extremes and corners)
Reference:
Nissen 484, Sitwell: Fine Bird Books
Desnos edition of Jonston's highly important work as a continuation of Maria Sybilla Merian's 'Histoire des Insectes de Surinam'.
The volume is labelled 'Histoire Generale des Insectes, Tom I'. First part is Maria Sybilla Merian's Desnos' edition of the Insects of Surinam without any plates. Some text pages are cutted with text loss, some leaves are loose. Second section is the Desnos edition of Jonston's work, includes plates 1-62, copies of those executed by Kaspar and Matthäus Merian for the 1650 Latin edition. The third section, describing birds in the 'Menagerie Royale', contains plates I-XXIII, engraved by Nicolas Robert. The entire set contains 62 by Jonston and 23 plates by Robert. Fine copy, plates in sharp and dark impressions. Jonston and Robert part is complete in text and plates. Sitwell called this edition 'A very rare book' in his publication 'Fine Bird Books' from 1990.
First part has no plates left, some text pages are cut and loose. Second and third part (Jonston and Robert) is complete and in fine condition. Plates have dark and sharp impression.
