Ornithological engravings Audebert & Vieillot 1802 framed 50x40 cm

A pair of original ornithological engravings from the major work Golden Birds or Birds with Metallic Reflections, published in Paris in 1802 by Jean-Baptiste Audebert (1759-1800) with texts by Louis Jean-Pierre Vieillot (1748-1831). The two plates represent "The Green Hummingbird" (Pl. 9), from Volume I – Natural and General History of Hummingbirds, and "The S. Tricolor" (Pl. 23), from Volume II – Natural and General History of Treecreepers and Birds of Paradise. Audebert developed a particularly innovative printing process for this publication, using oil-based inks printed in colour from a single plate, then enhanced by hand to reproduce the metallic sheen of the plumage. The work is considered one of the most remarkable illustrated ornithology books of the early 19th century. Its original edition is reputed to have been published in a very limited print run, generally estimated at around a hundred copies. The engravings are printed on old vellum-type paper, showing a beautiful patina, some foxing, and discreet signs of binding along the margins, indicating their provenance from a period work. They are presented under a mat in old moulded and gilded wooden frames, likely made in the 19th century, which harmoniously match their historical character. Framed dimensions: 50 × 40 cm.