Antique Hand Colored Engraving of a Small Snipe Bird

Antique print titled 'la petite Beccassine'. Hand colored engraving of a small snipe. This print originates from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' by Francois Nicolas Martinet, one of France’s foremost bird illustrators of the 18th century. Published in Paris from 1770 to 1786. It was a monumental effort to catalog 1035 known ornithological species of birds. A staff of 70 people, feverishly worked for an astounding 13 years to complete this amazing work by Francois Martinet and George LeClerc Compte de Buffon.

Condition: Good. Original hand coloring. General age-related toning. Few small weak spots, no holes. Minor wear and soiling, blank verso. Please study image carefully.

Date: c.1780

Overall size: 23.5 x 32.1 cm.