BUFFON (Georges-Louis Leclerc de). A Natural History of Birds. Paris, de l'Imprimerie royale, [tomes I à V] 1770-1778 [puis] Suivant la copie de l'Imprimerie royale, [tomes VI à X] 1783-1786. 10 volumes large in-4 (23 x 32 cm), fawn half calf, marbled parchment boards, spine ribbed and decorated, number D N repeated between the spines, red edges (Binding of the period). One of the most important and beautiful books on birds in the 18th century. Nissen, Vogel, n°158 - Zimmer, Cat. Ayer: pp. 104-106 - Anker, Bird books, n°76. Luxurious separate edition of the "Histoire naturelle des oiseaux", illustrated with 973 colour plates of birds, whose precise lines and fine colours meet Buffon's demand for perfect scientific realism. This deluxe edition includes the 9 volumes of text on birds published by Buffon in 1770-1783 for the original edition of the "Histoire naturelle générale et particulière" (44 volumes), accompanied by a magnificent suite of 973 plates of birds engraved after drawings by François-Nicolas Martinet. Under the direction of Buffon and then Edme-Louis Daubenton, a large number of artists (including Martinet himself) engraved these drawings, which were then carefully watercoloured, over a period of fifteen years. This important colour suite, commissioned by Buffon to enable precise identification of the species, was published by Panckoucke before the text, between 1765 and 1780, in two formats: large in-4 or on large folio paper, and in 42 quires of 24 plates (this suite also includes a series of 35 non-ornithological plates). A good copy, composite as is often the case (volumes I to V, original edition; volumes VI to X, contemporary forgery). In contemporary binding, it is complete with all 973 bird plates. Without the 35 non-ornithological plates, rarely bound with because neither the text nor the tables mention them. Volume I, spotting in upper margin. Minor soiling in volume II, p. 387. A few stains (including vol. VII, p. 212 and pl. 407; vol. X, pl 237) and rare foxing. Some plates shorter. Volume VIII, plate 628 slightly detached; plate 844, tear not missing. Some headpieces bumped and missing, rubbing, small wormholes, corners dulled; volumes IV, VII and X, jaws split.