Barraband & Levaillant's Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets - Two Volume with 145 Stipple Engravings

Artist or Author: Francois Levaillant & Jacques Barraband

Work: Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets

Date of Publication: 1801-1805

Style: Two Volume with 145 Stipple Engravings

Paper Size: ~ 14 1/8" by 21 5/8"

Condition: The work is in good to very good condition overall. The bindings are rubbed slightly, inner hinges slightly loosened. There may be some foxing to protective tissue guards. This is typically only to the margins or text otherwise. There is some marginal waterstaining to first and last leaves of the first volume. Plate 26 is bound in upside down. There may be minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Description of the work:

This incredible two volume first edition work with 145 originally hand-colored stipple engravings is Francois Levaillant & Jacques Barraband's Histoire naturelle des perroquets. The work was published in Paris by Levrault, Schoell & Co. between 1801 and 1805. The work is considered "... a part of the glories of Napoleonic France." (Fine Bird Books)

The volumes are bound in contemporary red half-morocco bindings with gilt-lettered and gilt-tooled spines. It is complete with text and 145 originally hand-colored stipple engravings on uncut, wide-margined paper.

Barraband drew the original drawings for the work which contain such fine detail and marvelous beauty. The engravings were printed in color and finished by hand by Langlois. The plates were primarily printed in color - a remarkable feat for the early 1800s. The French master, Langlois, developed a superb technique to print in color called "a la poupee." After the printing process was complete, each plate was carefully highlighted by hand.

François Le Vaillant (1753-1824) was an explorer, collector, and ornithologist. He was one of the most important figures in the history of ornithology. He predominantly studied in Metz were he met Jean-Baptiste Bécoeur who taugh him how to preserve specimens. He met Jacob Temminck in 1780 in the Netherlands, which allowed him to study birds in their natural setting. He was a prolific producer of bird works, not to be overtaken until John Gould and John James Audubon. His collection, largely acquired by Temminck, is now at the Museum of Natural History of Leiden.

Jacques Barraband (1767-1809) was Le Vaillant's friend and illustrator. He is considered to be one of the greatest ornithological artists. He studied at the drawing school of Aubusson Factory as well as the gobelins Factory of Paris (where he learned from Joseph Malaine). Napoleon Bonaparte also commissioned him as an artist.

Barraband and Levaillant collaborated on the best-known natural history work about parrots, Histoire Naturelle Des Perroquets. The pair would go on to collaborate on other great works including Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers, suivie de celle des toucans et des barbus, Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux Des Paradis et des Rolliers (Birds of Paradise) as well as Histoire Naturelle des Promerops (Toucans).

Provenance: 20th century bookplate to pastedown with motto "Je ne change qu'en mourant" and partly erased stamp of an ornithological library to free endpapers