BRISSON (Mathurin Jacques)

ORNITHOLOGIE OU METHODE CONTENANT LA DIVISION DES OISEAUX EN ORDRES, SECTIONS, GENRES, ESPECES & LEURS VARIETES. A LAQUELLE ON A JOINT UNE DESCRIPTION EXACTE DE CHAQUE ESPECE, AVEC LES CITATIONS DES AUTEURS QUI EN ONT TRAITE, LES NOMS QU'ILS LEUR ONT DONNES, CEUX QUE LEUR ONT DONNES LES DIFFERENTES NATIONS, & LES NOMS VULGAIRES [bound with:] SUPPLEMENTUM ORNITHOLOGIAE….

Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche, 1760. First Edition. Hardcover. Six quarto volumes (7-1/2" x 10") bound in contemporary marbled calf leather, rebacked with later gilt decorated spines. Dual title-pages in French and Latin with parallel text in French and Latin, engraved woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials. Illustrated with 6 engraved title pages and 261 folding engraved plates by Martinet depicting numerous species of birds (pigeons, peacock, stork, eagle, ostrich, turkey, pheasant, etc.). The birds are depicted in their natural habitat, with charming backgrounds. The most important French ornithological work of the 18th century. One plate with partial closed tear, most plates with some offsetting from being folded. Near Fine, handsome set. Item #017499

ANKER 69: "Written by one of the greatest connoisseurs of birds of the time, the work deals with 1336 species.... Brisson knew by sight more than 800 of the species he described.... The plates, which are folded, were drawn and engraved by Martinet. Both artistically and as accurate detail studies they are better than those of most of his predecessors"; NISSEN 145; ZIMMER, page 95: "One of the early systematic treatises on birds by a contemporary of Linnaeus."

Price: $10,000.00