FOUR FRENCH HAND-COLORED ENGRAVINGS OF BIRDS OF AFRICA,After Levaillant, François (1753-1824), early 19th century. Four plates from Histoire naturelle des oiseaux d'Afrique, published in 1806 in Paris by JJ Fuchs. Framed in giltwood molding, double matted.
Consisting of: La Grande Piegrieche; Le Coucou vulgaire permier age; Le Coucou tachirou, male; and Le Bacbarkiri, male and female.
- Framed: 20 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide. Sight: 11" high x 8 1/2" wide. Estimate $300-400
NOTE: Francois Levaillant was a French author, explorer, naturalist, zoological collector, and noted ornithologist. He described many new species of birds based on collections he assembled in Africa. Several species of birds are named after him. He was among the first to use color plates for illustrating birds and opposed the use of binomial nomenclature introduced by Linnaeus, preferring instead to use descriptive French names.
In very good condition, with two having old repairs. Very good original color.
