René-Primevère Lesson | Histoire naturelle des oiseaux mouches [...colibris ...trochilidees], 1829-31, 3 vols

René Primevère Lesson

Histoire naturelle des oiseaux-mouches [with] ...des colibris [and] ...les trochilidées. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, 1829-1830-1831

Oiseaux-mouches: dedication, 86 hand-coloured engraved plates; Colibris: dedication, 64 hand-coloured engraved plates; Trochilidées: 66 hand-coloured engraved plates, Trochilidées: caption of plate 1 slightly shaved at lower margin (not affecting illustration), all volumes: scattered spotting

Together 3 volumes, 8vo (230 x 144mm.), all volumes finely bound in contemporary green morocco by Charles Lewis, with his green morocco ticket to front pastedowns of 2 volumes, elaborately gilt, monogrammed stamps to covers ("GVI", plausibly George John Warren, Lord Vernon), spines with raised bands in six compartments, edges gilt, marbled endpapers, inner dentelles

Originally a ship's surgeon, Lesson (1794-1849) became involved with pharmacy and natural history and served on Louis Isidore Duperrey's famed round-the-world voyage, La Coquille, from 1822 to 1825. On this trip, he became the first naturalist to see birds of paradise in situ. He went on produce several books on ornithology, zoology, herpetology as well as monographs on hummingbirds and birds of paradise. His brother, Pierre Adolphe Lesson (1805-1888), participated in the Astrolabe expedition under the command of Jules Dumont d'Urville.

LITERATURE:

Oiseaux-mouches: Anker 291; Nissen ZBI 547; Ronsil, p. 290; Zimmer, pp. 386-387; Des colibris: Anker 293; Nissen IVB 548; Trochilidées: Anker 294; Nissen IVB 549