Description
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par Pierre Belon du Mans., Colophon contains statement: Imprime a Paris par Benoist Preuost ... 1555., Each part except the first has a separate t.p., L'histoire de la natvre des oyseavx., First and only early edition of one of the first books devoted solely to birds, with contemporary hand-coloured woodcuts by Pierre Gourdelle and others. It was intended as a compendium of ornithology and includes an important comparison of human and avian skeletons, which became the foundation of the science of comparative anatomy. The work is divided into 7 parts: the first on the anatomy and physiology of birds; the second on birds of prey; the third on swimming birds; the fourth on shore birds; the fifth on galliformes; the sixth on crows and similar species; and the seventh on songbirds. The second part also includes an chapter on falconry. The work was published in two issues, with variant title-pages of the publishers Gilles Corrozet and Guillaume Cavellat. Lacking blank pages 275-276 and the final blank leaf. Title-page soiled and restored, with later owner's inscription, right lower corners thumbed throughout and some occasional stains and minor foxing. Still in good condition, with crude contemporary hand-coloured illustrations, Main Heritage Shelves General, QL673 .B45 1555, Book, Item-ID: i1706692x, BIB-ID: 1525358, Includes index |