BUFFON (Georges Marie Leclerc, Comte de) Histoire naturelle des oiseaux. Paris, Imprimerie Royale ou suivant la copie de l'Imprimerie Royale, 1771-1774-1777-1783, 4 vols. in-folio (out of 10), midnight blue morocco, triple fillets framing the boards, ribbed spines, ornamented and unstained, gilt tr., pink tabis endpapers (rel. of the period). ORIGINAL in-folio edition in contemporary colors of one of the most important and sumptuous ornithological books of the 18th century. Collection incomplete. Vol. 1: 74 plates (of 75). 3: 89 plates (out of 98). 4: 95 plates (out of 97). 7: 137 plates (out of 142). A total of 395 plates drawn by François-Nicolas Martinet (1731- 1800), under the direction of Edmée-Louis Daubenton, all colored and each presented in a yellow watercolor frame. Binding rubbed, corners dulled, spine scuffed.