Histoire naturelle des colibris, suivie d'un Supplément à l'Histoire naturelle des oiseaux-mouches; ouvrage orné de planches [...] et dédié à M. le baron Cuvier.

2 vols, 8vo: x-196 pp. & 4to: 66 pls (text foxing).

Contemp. half light brown glazed calf, gilt-tooled spines with flat raised bands (faded spines, caps & hinges somewhat worn, turn-ins sl. dulled, a 4to paper torn).

First edition of this fundamental and classic treatise on hummingbirds, a continuation to "Histoire naturelle des oiseaux-mouches". Complete with 66 engraved hand-coloured plates (1-25, 12&13bis, 1-39). A previous owner of this copy reassembled the plates in a 4to album, retained by corners on green paper and protected by tissue guards. Lesson (1794-1849) was a French surgeon, naturalist, ornithologist and herpetologist. He travelled in the Pacific Ocean where he collected specimens with Dumont d'Urville. Ref. Ronsil 1774, p. 290. - Nissen Birds 548.