Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis et des Rolliers, suivie de Celle des Toucans et des Barbus.

deluxe set with two states of the plates

First edition of Levaillant's spectacular final work on exotic birds. A rare complete set of deluxe copies on extra-large paper with all 198 of the plates in two states, coloured and plain (avant la lettre), and exceptional hand-finishing of the coloured plates. One of the most desirable of all bird books in its most luxurious state.

Francois Levaillant (1753-1824) was among the first to illustrate birds using coloured plates. Born in Dutch Guiana (Surinam), he began his career as a specimen trader and travelled to the Cape of Good Hope with the Dutch East India Company three times during the 1780s. The resulting specimen collections and publications made his name among the international scientific community.

Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis et des Rolliers was illustrated by Jacques Barraband, the great bird artist of his generation. It was published in nineteen parts between 1801 and 1806, then continued as Histoire Naturelle des Promerops, et des Guêpiers between 1807 and 1818. After this time the two works are cited under a single title, that having been the original plan of the work, as indicated by the half-title of the first birds of paradise volume, which combines the two titles, 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis, des Rolliers, et des Promerops'.

'The plates were drawn from nature by Barraband and the plates engraved by Perée and Grémillier, some few by Bouquet, and printed in colours by Langlois and Rousset, and retouched by hand' (Anker, Bird Books & Bird Art 304 & 305). The colour printing technique (a la poupee) used here was originally developed by Henri-Joseph Redoute, and it allowed all the colours to be applied together rather than in stages.

First edition, deluxe extra-large paper copies with the plates in two states; 3 volumes, imperial folio (57.5 x 42 cm); 114 and 84 colour printed and hand-finished plates, each with matching uncoloured 'avant la lettre' plate, some offsetting and spotting, heavier at the rear of volume III; handsomely bound in mid-19th century red crushed morocco, spines elaborately gilt in compartments, triple floral rolls to boards, double gilt fillets to turn-ins, green coated endpapers, all edges gilt, spines faded, some rubbing and small marks to the boards, joints and ends of spines repaired, a very good set.

Anker 304 & 305; Nissen IVB 559.