Antique Prints, Maps, & Books of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 1540:
Description
This magnificent natural history engrraving with original hand-coloring is from Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon’s
Histoire Naturelle, générale et particulière, avec la description du Cabinet du Roi. The work was published in paris by L’Imprimmerie Royale between 1749 and 1782.
The work encompassed much of the natural sciences with depictions of birds, entomology, reptiles, and more. The encyclopedic work was one of the most scientific undertakings in the Age of Enlightenment.
Each plate from the work features a delicate yellow border, which many believe led to the development of French matting. Each plate is on fine chain-linked, watermarked paper. Many of the pages are backed on chain-linked tissue guard. Some are trimmed within some of the plate marks with some re-margined with yellow border added.
Buffon’s work became one of the most informative sources as far as the visual appearance of animals, and was highly understandable for a wide audience. Buffon described his work and love for natural history by stating that, "Natural history embraces all the objects the universe presents to us. This prodigious multitude of quadrupeds, birds, fish, insects, plants, minerals, etc., offers to the curiosity of the human mind a vast spectacle, of which the whole is so great that the details are inexhaustible."
The bird engravings are from François-Nicolas Martinet. Martinet (1731-1800) was a prominent ornithological artist of the 1700s. He work closely with Count Georges-Louis Leclerc du Buffon on
Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. That work is considered one of the most influential bird books of all time. Martinet also created work for Marmontel, Voltaire, and Philidor.
Paper Size: ~ 7 3/4” by 10 3/4”
Paper Type or Special Features: Originally Hand-colored Engraving
Condition report:
The work is in good condition overall. Most of the plates from this work are backed on chain-linked tissue guard. Most of them are trimmed at some point to the plate mark with yellow border added and re-margined due to how the work was originally bound. There may be a few minor imperfections or marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact with any questions.
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