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Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets,

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troisième volume (supplémentaire), pour faire suite aux deux volumes de Levaillant, contenant les espèces laissées inédites par cet auteur ou récemment découvertes.

Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets,

Sold

troisième volume (supplémentaire), pour faire suite aux deux volumes de Levaillant, contenant les espèces laissées inédites par cet auteur ou récemment découvertes.

Stock Code 111231

Paris et Strasbourg, F. G. Levrault, [1835-]1837-1838[-1839].

Large paper Jeanson copy with original watercolours. A large paper copy of Bourjot Saint-Hilaire's Perroquet, one of the rarest works on parrots and a worthy companion to Levaillant. The work was issued in 29 livraisons as a supplement to Levaillant's Histoire naturelle des perroquets (1801-1805), and was published in both imperial folio and 4to formats. It is considered as a separate work and includes many of the species discovered in the 30 years that had elapsed since Levaillant had completed his work. The plates in the large-paper copies display superior colouring and are unnumbered, and, although the table of plates refers to 116 plates, 5 of these [nos. 8, 12, 35ter, 57bis and 72ter] were never issued (according to Anker).

Bourjot Saint-Hilaire, a professor of natural history and anatomy, adopted the surname of Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire on his marriage to the latter's only daughter. The text, in French and Latin, describes each species and gives synonyms and information about geographical distribution. The plates are by J.C.Werner, an artist attached to the French museum of natural history. He appears to have been content to follow the form for depicting the specimens adopted by Barraband in Levaillant's work, with one exception: the extraordinary brooding portrait of the white cockatoo, against an almost black stormy sky, the bird lit by the unseen sun momentarily breaking through the clouds.

First edition; folio (54.5 x 36.5 cm); 111 fine hand-coloured plates lithographed by Bernard after Werner, 5 original watercolours, some plates lightly toned, a few a bit spotted; contemporary red morocco gilt, all edges gilt, a very good copy of an excessively rare work.

Anker 55a; Ellis/Mengel 353; Fine Bird Books p.61; Nissen IVB 126; Ronsil 352; Wood p.252; Zimmer p.84.
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Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.

Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.

We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.

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About us

Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.

Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.

We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.

Read more

Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets,

BOURJOT SAINT-HILAIRE, Alexandre.

Stock code: 111231

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