FRANCOIS NICOLAS MARTINET (FRENCH, 1725-1804) ORNITHOLOGICAL PRINTS, LOT OF FOUR, hand-colored engravings on laid paper, from "Historie Naturelle Des Oiseaux", including "Le Geai, de la Chine" and "Choucas, de la Nouvelle Guinee", each with plate number upper left, marked for Martinet lower left, three examples with partial watermark. Each unframed. 1770-1786. Each 9 5/8" x 8" plate. Largest 12 5/8" x 9 1/8" object.
Excellent overall condition with very light toning and discoloration. Each with later pencil notation upper left margin.

Provenance: From Virginia private collection.
Catalogue Note: Francois Nicolas Martinet (1725-1804) was employed at the French Court in the second half of the 18th century as Graveur du Cabinet du Roi. The present illustrations were commissioned by Georges-Marie Louis Leclerc, the Count du Buffon, for his monumental 44-volume work, "Historie Naturelle des Oiseaux", published between the years 1770-1786.

Excellent overall condition with very light toning and discoloration. Each with later pencil notation upper left margin.