Lesson’s Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis… – Volume with 43 Bird of Paradise Engravings

This volume of 43 decorative, hand-colored copper-plate engravings is Lesson’s Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des epimaques. Rene Primevere Lesson’s work preceded Gould’s by more than 20 years. The work was published in Paris by Arthur Bertrand between 1834 and 1835. Lesson, a French naturalist and explorer, traveled on la Coquile and became enthralled with the remarkable birds. He employed top natural history artists, Pretre and Bevalat, to create the drawings for his noted work.

Provenance: Book plate reads Alis Volat Propriis John Eliot Thayer