[Ornithology] Levaillant, F. Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis et des Rolliers,

suivie de Celle des Toucans et des Barbus. Paris, Denné le jeune/ Perlet, (1801-)1806. 4 parts in 2 vols. (IV),153,(1 blank),(4); (IV),133,(1 blank),(2) p. With 76 (of 114) engraved plates printed in colours ('à la poupée') by Perée, Grémillier, and Bouquet after Barraband. Printed by Langlois and Rousset. Also includes 104 (of 114) plain 'avant la lettre' plates. Contemp. uniform half calf, gilt spines, large folio. Bindings worn, lacking portions of spines. Vol. 1 approx. first 50 and last 20 p. waterstained at top; about 5 plates w. restorations on verso, trimmed close to captions, not affecting them. Some foxing, marginal browing mostly along the edges.

Splendid edition with the birds of paradise, rollers, toucans, and barbers by the great French ornithologist. The impressive plates were illustrated after the drawings of Jacques Barraband (1767-1809), one of the finest and most skillful natural history painters of his time. Ankler 304; Zimmer II, 393; Ekama 75. (total 2) *Collation and plate count available on request.