SELIGMANN, Johann Michael

9 parts in 5 vol., folio: [4]-xvi-84, [4]-108-[2], [4]-118, [4]-56-56, [2]-90 [= 57]-[7] pp.; text in Dutch, illustrated with 473 pl. Legends of the plates in German, Latin and French. COMPLETE of the 473 beautiful plates NICELY HAND-COLOURED, with captions in German, Latin and French, showing numerous species of birds (parrots, ducks, owls, hummingbirds, kingfishers...) and also zebras, apes, porcupines, bats, fishes, etc. First edition of the translation by Martinus Houttuyn, somewhat enlarged. First published in 1749-1776 in German, under the title "Sammlung verschiedener ausländischer und seltener Vögel [...]", this work is based and translated in all essentials on George Edwards' "A natural history of birds" (1743-1751) and "Gleanings of natural history" (1758-1764) and Mark Catesby's "The natural history of Carolina", provided with copies of the plates of these works engraved by Seligmann who enriched them with flora and scenic backgrounds. (light staining in some margins, stamps to some pl., scattered foxing, marg. tear to pl. 76 in vol. I, sm. marg. damp stains in the begin. of vol. I and the end of vol. II, otherwise very good condition). Contemporary marbled calf, gilt roll-stamp on boards, gilt-dec. spines with raised bands, marbled edges (professional restorations to spine, turns in and joints, sm. wears, damp stain on lower board of vol. II)