Beschreibung:

MATHURIN JACQUES BRISSON (1723-1806) Ornithologie ou methode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leur variétés . Paris: Jean Baptiste Buache, 1760. 6 volumes (including supplement bound with volume 6), 4° (290 x 212mm). Tiles and text in Latin and French. Engraved additional titles by F.N.Martinet, Latin letterpress titles on versos, facing French letterpress titles, 261 engraved plates by Franois-Nicolas Martinet, most folding. (Occasional light browning.) Contemporary French red morocco gilt bound for Lamoignon, covers panelled in gilt, 'E D.' tooled at centre of each upper cover, the flat spines divided into six compartments by roll-tools, orange morocco lettering-pieces in two, shelf-mark tooled in gilt in a third, gilt turn-ins, g.e. (joints slightly weak, spines a trifle discoloured, extremities slightly rubbed.). Provenance : CHRéTIEN-GUILLAUME DE LAMOIGNON DE MALESHERBES (binding, 'Bibliotheca Lamoniana' book-label, ink shelf-marks, ownership stamps); Francis, 5th Marquis of Hertford (1812-1884, Ragley Hall armorial bookplate). A LARGE COPY, WITH A DISTINGUISHED PROVENANCE OF THE FIRST EDITION OF "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EARLY SYSTEMATIC ORNITHOLOGIES" (Ellis 378). Brisson classified 1336 species in addition to 150 varieties, distributed over 115 genera, which are grouped in 26 orders. The work is illustrated by Franois Nicolas Martinet with over 500 birds, on 261 plates, a number of which had not been illustrated before. Brunet mentions copies on large paper without giving details. Anker 69; Brunet I. 1262; Ellis 378; Nissen IVB 145; Ronsil 391; Wood p.257; Zimmer p.94. (6)