BUFFON Natural history of birds. 10 volumes in 20 vol. in-folio (31.5 x 23.5 cm), marbled basane, ribbed spine decorated with gilt motifs, ochre title-pieces and green tomaison (period binding). First separate edition. It is decorated with 973 plates of birds, drawn and copper-engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet; here they are entirely hand-watercoloured in the old style, some partially enhanced with gum. "This edition was certainly the most ambitious and comprehensive bird book that has appeared at the time of its publication, and still ranks as one of the most important of all bird books from the Collector's point of view" (Sitwell). "Buffon's Histoire naturelle des oiseaux, illustrated by Martinet, is truly the basis of ornithological iconography, the starting point of a new era for this branch that was to find its full flowering a few eons later, at the very beginning of the nineteenth century. Today, no bird book is more sought-after by bibliophiles and ornithologists alike, and its documentary value is indisputable" (Ronsil). Without the 35 non-ornithological plates that are almost never found in copies combining text and figures. A frontispiece with the coat of arms of France drawn in brown ink by Pierre Carrey, as well as handwritten titles (for the second volumes of each volume) have been added to the copy. The figures are pasted on the facing leaf at the back of the quire (a strip of 1 to 1.5 cm), without reducing the design. A handwritten table of one leaf and 40 p. giving details of the plates has been added and bound in the last volume. Bindings a little rubbed, with epidermis and a few snags to the headpieces (slight lacks). Some very light foxing, rare handwritten notes or corrections to captions, some paper reinforcement in the margins of certain leaves (without missing or affecting the text); some slight transfer of colours to the facing pages. Overall fresh interior. Provenance: - Daniel Digois (ex-libris painted by Pierre Carrey). - Du Sart (heraldic ex-libris engraved and watercoloured, pasted at the end of volume VII). Bibliography: Anker, Bird books and bird art, no. 76. Sitwell, Fine bird books, p. 63. Nissen, Die Illustrierten Vogelbücher, no. 158. Ronsil, L'Art français dans le livre d'oiseaux, p. 26.