Histoire naturelle des promerops et des guêpiers. Faisant suite à celle des Oiseaux de paradis.

Folio: [4]-81-[1 bl.], 67-[1 bl.], 52 pp.; 81 pl. (spotting and browning, offsetting of the plates to the facing text pp., one plate with tear in blank lower margin, 2 lvs loose, some other lvs loosening).

Cardboard binding (used, corners and covers rubbed and faded, spine def. and loosening).

First (?) edition, originally issued in parts, on promerops and bee-eaters by the French explorer, naturalist, zoological collector, and noted ornithologist Levaillant (1753-1824). Illustrated with 81 b/w engraved plates drawn from nature by Barraband and engraved by Grémillier and Guyard fils, some by Bouquet and Barrière. Levaillant was born in Paramaribo, the son of the French consul in Dutch Guiana. He inherited his father's love of travel and was one of the first of a new breed of naturalists who achieved prominence towards the end of the 18th c. by studying and recording birds in their natural habitat. The birds are described and referred to under their vernacular names. The bibliography does not confirm the strict total of plates. Nissen states a total of 83 plates, Anker mentions 82 plates and two missing. Other copies we have found have 81 plates as does our copy. Also Nissen mentions Levrault as publisher, Anker Denné le jeune does too, as does our copy.
Ref. Anker 305. - Nissen (IVB) 560. - BnF.