Jean-Frédéric Émile Oustalet (French, 1844-1905)
M. Arnoul and Armand David
Portfolio of Original Pencil Drawings
Les Oiseaux de la Chine ...
Paris: G. Mason, 1877

A selection is shown in this catalogue

3 volumes: 2 published volumes, 8vo (10 2/8 x 6 1/8 inches) 124 hand-colored lithograph plates of birds. Original brown bevelled pictorial cloth, gilt. Portfolio of 88 FINE ORIGINAL PENCIL DRAWINGS of birds, each on a separate leaf (7 4/8 x 5 inches), and annotated with their Latin names, by M. Arnoul, loose in modern red cloth chemise and slipcase.

Provenance: Bookplate of the Markree library on the front paste-down of volume one dated 1913; bookplates of H. Bradley Martin on the front paste-down of each volume.

“Probably the most important systematic monograph yet written on the birds of China”. (Wood). First edition, with a portfolio of fine detailed original drawings of birds in “natural” settings for plates 1,2,4,6,17,10-20, 22-34, 36-39, 41-45, 47, 50, 52, 54-61, 64-78, 81-89, 91-94, 96, 97, 99, 111, 112, 116-119, 121, 122. The published monograph covered 807 different species of bird found in China, all that were then known of in 1877. Sadly nothing is known of the artist, who not only drew these exquisite images but was also responsible for the published lithographs. Ronsil suggests the plates do not present the birds if a natural position, the drawings convey a remarkable life-like quality. “Arnoul dessina et lithographia en 124 planches beaucoup d’especes figurees pour la premiere fois. Tous ces Oiseaux sont fort bien peints, mais leur attituden n’est pas tourjours tres naturelle” (Ronsil). From the distinguished library of H. Bradley Martin. Ayer/Zimmer 159.

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