Bargain discounted Papuan Frogmouth and south-east Asian Fish Owl c1836.

by Pourrat

Wonderful Frogmouth and Fish Owl antique print. Le Ketupu. Podarge Papou.

Fine hand-coloured steel engraving of Frogmouth and Owl, published in Paris c1836 by Pourrat Brothers for Bernard Germain Etienne de la Ville sur Illon, Comte de Lacepede (1756-1825), who updated the work he completed for Georges-Louis le Clerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788).

In 1785, Buffon appointed Lacepede as subdemonstrator at the Jardin du Roi in Paris. Lacepede assisted Buffon with publication of his monumental work, 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. Buffon 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. From 1798 to 1803 Lacepede published the final 8 volumes of Buffon’s work. They have been reissued many times since then.

When the Jardin du Roi was re-organised as the Jardin du Plantes, Lacepede was appointed to head the study of reptiles and fish. Lacepede continued to add to and update Buffon's Suites Histoire Naturelle. Most of Lacepede's work was published in Paris by Pourrat Brothers.

This lovely engraving has the usual age discolouration of paper but unfortunately it also has water damage across the top left corner. Hence the price reduction. Size: 24.8 x 16cm (9 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches).