Paris, F. Dufart, An IX-XIII (1801-1805). 28 parts in 28 [Complete]. 8vo (19.3 x 12.0 cm). Over 10,000 pp.; 257 finely engraved plates. Uniform contemporary polished tree-calf with empire style gilt borders and ornaments. Red and black morocco labels with gilt title. Marbled endpapers. Edges yellow, speckled with red.

A massive work by one of the most important zoologists of the late 18th and early 19th century, edited by Sonnini. According to the title, this work contains images of every bird then known to science. Comments by Sonnini are often added in the footnotes. Boards with some - mainly minor - rubbing, a few volumes with the leather on the boards (not the spines) partly abraded. Light age-toning, or offsetting to a few text sections, volume 16 with paper absence in lower outer margin (no text loss); volume 26 with a marginal damp stain in places, several volumes lightly toned at the lower inner part, the plates are generally cleaner and bright. Otherwise a very good, unmarked, complete, and attractively bound set. Nissen IVB, 160; Nissen ZBI, 682.