Precious meeting of three treatises on ornithology in original editions
adornede de 218 with plates of exotic birds finely watercolor-painteds at the time.
Lesson, René Primevère. Natural history of hummingbirds, followed by a supplement to the natural history of hummingbirds; work adorned with plates drawn and engraved by the best artists, and dedicated to Mr. Baron Cuvier.
Paris, Arthus Bertrand, n.d. [1830-1832].
Large in-8 of x pp., 196 pp. and a suite of 66 plates out of text.
– [Of the same] : II / Les Trochilidae or hummingbirds and hummingbird-moths followed by a general index.
Paris, Arthus Bertrand, n.d. [1832-1833].
Large in-8 of (2) ff., 171 pp., 66 plates out of text, xliii pp. of index
– [Of the same] : III / Natural history of hummingbird-moths, work adorned with plates drawn and engraved by the best artists…
Paris, Arthus Bertrand, n.d. [1828-1830].
Large in-8 of xlvi pp., 223 pp., 86 plates out of text.
Bound in contemporary aubergine half-calf with corners, spine with four double raised bands adorned with gilded compartments, gilt edges. Binding of the period.
243 x 154 mm
I / Original edition dedicated to Baron Cuvier of this text following the “Natural history of hummingbirds”.
Brunet, III, 1017; Sabin, 40215; Sitwell, Fine Bird Books, 117.
“This natural history has been a source of pure enjoyment for us. It has served as a diversion from more serious studies…” writes Lesson in his preface.
Each finely illustrated hummingbird is meticulously described.
The illustration includes 66 more out-of-text plates finely engraved on metal, hand-enhanced with extreme care, most after drawings by Prêtre.
“René Primevère Lesson (1794-1849) was received as a naval pharmacist in 1816. He was attached to the direction of the botanical garden of Rochefort, when he was appointed to be part of the crew of La Coquille, intended for a voyage around the world under the orders of naval lieutenant Duperrey […]. His zeal as a naturalist was duly appreciated in a report by Cuvier to the Academy of Sciences on August 22, 1825. His activity enriched the Natural History Museum with many animals it lacked, including 46 species of birds…” (General biography, 30, 972-973).
II / Original edition adorned with 66 color plates by Jean Gabriel Prêtre and Antoine Bévalet.
Sitwell, Fine Bird Books, 117.
“This volume contains 66 color plates, and it was published in 14 parts, under the same conditions as the two previous ones, to which it follows” (Brunet, III, 1017).
III / Original edition adorned with 86 plates printed in colors and hand-enhanced by Bessa, Antoine Germain Bévalet, Mlle Zoë Dumont, Mme Lesson, Jean Gabriel Prêtre et Vauthier.
It was published in 17 parts.
Precious gathering of these three superb treatises of ornithology in original editions preserved in their brilliant contemporary uniform bindings.
