Audoberts Monkey Prints

Description:

Paris: Chez Desray, An VIII (1797-1800). Folio. Original full French mottled calf with gilt borders on front & rear covers. Spine gilt panelled, with raised bands, and morocco titling-label. Inside dentelles. E.g. Original patterned end-papers. Large Paper copy complete with half-title page, 61 hand-finished coloured plates, 2 b/w anatomical plates, and accompanying text. Some slight non-disturbing water marks along lower edge at beginning of text; hinges weak but sound; otherwise an excellent copy in original condition. 1st edition. Wood 206; Brunet 1,550; Nissen ZBI 156.

NOTE: The foremost outstanding pictorial work on monkeys and apes, being the first original work of Audebert and the only publication of his own work to be completed during his own life time. Issued by subscription which according to the list totalled 138 copies only. The plates were printed by the author (the distinguished French naturalist and artist, and Member of the Societe d' Histoire Naturelle de Paris) from his drawings, and coloured after a special process he himself invented which allowed the reproduction of the brilliant natural history images. It was a technique responsible for producing two of the greatest natural history works ever published - Redoute's "Liliacees" and "Roses".

First edition, of the finest book on monkeys and apes, illustrated with excellent colour-printed plates. Jean Baptiste Audebert (1759-1800), born in Rochefort, was a notable miniaturist who developed a technique of colour printing using oil-based inks, which was first employed in this work. All of the plates were drawn and engraved by himself. 'The tradition embodied in the brilliant dynasty of miniaturists... gave zoological art in France an overall uniformity and distinction that was not equalled elsewhere. The illustrations in books such as the Histoire naturelle des singes et des makis by J.B. Audebert had few serious rivals outside France in the early years of the nineteenth century' (Peter Dance, The Art of Natural History).

This work was published over three years in a series of ten parts.

Audebert, a painter by training, was born at Rochefort. His interest in natural history was stimulated by a commission to help with the preparation of the plates for G. A. Olivier's work on Coleoptera. The present work, the author's only publication of his own work to be completed during his life-time was published by subscription (63 individuals, institutions or firms subscribing for 138 copies, according to the list) and published in ten parts between 1797 and 1800. He died in 1800, in Paris, leaving notes and drawings for a number of other works which were published after his death. The plates have a spectacular vitality that in many cases capture the quick-silver movements and natures of the monkeys concerned. They were printed by Audebert, from his own drawings, using a colour-printing process of his own devising. The highly skilled colour printers of France, of whom Audebert is one of the most highly respected pioneers, perfected a technique which accurately reproduced the brilliance of the work of the natural-history artists of the time. It was a technique that was to be responsible for producing at least two of the greatest natural-history works ever: the "Liliacées" and "Roses" of Redouté.

All of these hand-coloured Monkey Prints have been professionally matted with acid free material and framed. Size: 22 in. by 28 in. Purchase Price: $1,000 per print. To purchase please email: Rob@nehushtanantiques.com