67 - Biology - Zoology - Audebert, J. B. & L. P. Vieillot. Birds with Golden or Metallic Iridescence. Vol. 1: Natural and General History of Hummingbirds, Flycatchers, Jacamars, and Promerops. - Vol. 2: On the Grimperaux and Birds of Paradise. With 190 color plates (6 double-sheet, 1 four-page) by Audebert, some bichromatic and gilded by L. Bouquet et al. Paris, Desray, 1800–1802. 2 leaves, XII, 156, 8, 37 pp.; 2 leaves, 164, 55 pp. 36 x 26 cm. Contemporary half-leather bindings with gold-stamped spine titles and some gilding on the spine (battered, covers with missing leather in places, spine reinforced, one band section extensively replaced).

Biology - Zoology - Audebert, J. B. & L. P. Vieillot. Birds with Golden or Metallic Iridescence. Vol. 1: Natural and General History of Hummingbirds, Flycatchers, Jacamars, and Promerops. - Vol. 2: On the Grimperaux and Birds of Paradise. With 190 color plates (6 double-sheet, 1 four-page) by Audebert, some bichromatic and gilded by L. Bouquet et al. Paris, Desray, 1800–1802. 2 leaves, XII, 156, 8, 37 pp.; 2 leaves, 164, 55 pp. 36 x 26 cm. Contemporary half-leather bindings with gold-stamped spine titles and some gilding on the spine (battered, covers with missing leather in places, spine reinforced, one band section extensively replaced). First edition, printed on heavy paper in large quarto (200 copies were printed in large folio). - Nissen, IVB 47 - Fine Bird Books 73. - A masterpiece of French color engraving. "Color printing was introduced into ornithological illustration by Jean Baptiste Audebert, who was employed as an illustrator by the wealthy natural history collector Gigot d’Orex. He usually engraved and printed his illustrations himself, making them arguably the most perfect in this regard. Above all, his *Oiseaux dorés*—the first magnificent depiction of the hummingbird, printed in gouache rather than Redouté’s glazing colors and with abundant use of gold—allowed him to showcase the full range of his skill.” (Nissen, p. 47). Audebert died in 1800; the work was completed by Vieillot. — Wide margins, evenly lightly browned; page edges slightly foxed, in places more heavily and over larger areas; Volume I/Plate 13 has a water stain at the top; a few plates and text pages in Volume II have water marks in the lower outer corner; the double-page plates are mounted on paper mounts; the folds of the four-page plate are reinforced on the reverse with a silk ribbon. *