The Long Eared Owl. Buffon engraving c1790.

by Buffon, Comte de

18thC antique print of Long Eared Owl. Buffon, c1790.

Original rare copperplate engraving for Histoire Naturelle Generale et Particuliere avec la description du cabinet du roi (Natural History, General and Specific with the description from the King’s library), published between 1749 and 1790 by Georg-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788). This small-sized monumentally-encompassing 18th century publication was one of the earliest illustrating animals.

Georges-Louis Le Clerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788) was a French naturalist, mathematician, biologist, cosmologist and author. Buffon's views influenced the next two generations of naturalists, including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Charles Darwin.

Page size 20.6 x 12.7 cm (8 1/8 x 5 inches). Image size approximately 13.5 x 8.2 cm (5 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches). General age-discolouration and offset printing from previous adjacent page. Later colour.