Belon, Pierre Histoire de la nature des oiseaux,... Lot 15

Belon, Pierre Histoire de la nature des oiseaux, avec leurs descriptions, et naïfs portraicts retirez du naturel: escrite en sept livres par Pierre Belon du Mans. Paris, Guillaume Cavellat, 1555. In-folio (335 x 225 mm) of [14] ff, 381 pp., [1] pp. Brown granite calf, spine with grotesque decoration, gilt figure at the top of the spine, red speckled edges (17th century binding). ORIGINAL EDITION dedicated to Henri II and decorated with a portrait of the author and 159 woodcuts: 158 woodcuts of birds in their natural environment which form the first suite of scientific images of birds, and a plate representing opposite a human skeleton and that of a bird. Part of the illustration would have been entrusted to the painter Pierre Gourdet while some engravings would be the work of the Lorraine Claude Woeiriot according to Albert Ohls des Marais. "This beautiful book, in addition to the 159 figures of birds which decorate all the pages, is enriched with beautiful initials. One meets copies with the name of Cavellat. The second book, which is devoted to birds of prey, contains interesting chapters on falconry" (Thiebaud, 65-66). A very nice copy in old grotesque binding. Old signature in pen on the title: "M Van Panhuysen" Discrete restorations to the binding, some foxing, small marginal worm gallery fading on about thirty leaves. A few small cracks in the upper spine, spotting in the binding