Histoire Naturelle des Plus Beaux Oiseaux Changeurs de la Zone Torride

Paris: Chez J. E. Gabriel Dufour. Printer: L'Imprimerie de Crapelet, 1805. First Edition. Full Calf. Very Good. Large paper copy! Elephantine Folio, 52 by 33 cm. 112 pp. With 72 engraved plates of tropical birds. Plates were actually printed in color, with hand-coloring then augmenting that color, to create exquisitely beautiful depictions of birds. Light scattered foxing, a bit more on the text leaves than the plates. Generally, though, the plates read quite clean, and they are always bright and fresh. Binding rebacked with original spine mostly preserved and laid on, but the rebacking obvious along the joints. And there is some loss and cracks to the mounted original spine. Rubbing along the edges. Still the full diced calf binding, which is contemporary, remains attractive, especially with its impressed diamond pattern.