[Rarebooks] fs: 4 and 20 Blackbirds, Baked in a Pie...

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

[Bullard, Pierre] "AVICEPTOLOGIE FRANCAISE, ou Traite General de toutes
les Ruses dont on peut se servir pour prendre les Oiseaux..."  Paris; Chez
Cussac: 1808. 5th edition. A wonderful, well-illustrated French book about
catching birds.  Sad (or not?) to say, the French fascination for
captivating avians was not purely recreational -a quick look at French
cookbooks of the period (or even today) gives more than a hint at the true
importance of catching our little feathered friends.

The 34 copper plate engravings show a wide variety of tools and devices,
snares, nets, blinds, fake bushes and trees, and even a two-man cattle
costume, that were all used to outwit local songbirds and wild fowl. The
frontispiece illustrates many of these contraptions arranged in the yard
behind a grand house, as a gentleman leaps from behind a bush in pursuit
of a pair of (rather small) songbirds.

Despite the fact that it went through 11 editions this book is not all
that common these days. Only 4 editions are listed on OCLC (no listings
for the 1808), with the 1822 and 1830 being the most numerous at 6 and 4
holdings each; the 1795 and 1854 editions are each represented by a single
copy. The ABPC records show 3 copies sold at auction in the last 25 years,
one of the 1795 edition and two copies of this, the 1808 edition.

Hardcover.  4.5"x7.5", xxiv + 312 pages, plus 34 engraved plates and an
engraved frontispiece. Bound in old-ish marbled boards and pebbled cloth;
some cover soil and wear, spine a bit faded and soiled. Internally there
is a little soil, but overall a nice copy. [29726] $450.00

Illustrations-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images/th-29726.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images/th-29726a.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images/th-29726b.jpg>


____________________________
JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
Post Office Box 516
Concord, Massachusetts 01742 USA
telephone (617) 492-5367
email <office at joslinhall.com>;
~~
Our full-service website features 82 separate subject categories, is
updated daily and has full search capabilities. http://www.joslinhall.com
~~
Subscribe to our free email News List and get special discounts and offers
on selected books! Send e-mail to
<JHRBnews- at joslinhall.com>; and put the word
"subscribe" (without quotes) in the Subject line of your note.
~~
Check out our "Featured Book"
http://www.joslinhall.com/today1.htm
~~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank; We
accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa, Mastercard and
Discover.
Books may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed;
Standard courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges are
$5.00 for the first book, and $1.50 for each additional book.
Shipments outside the U.S. will be billed at cost. We accept returns if we
are notified within ten days of your receipt of the books-please
ask for full instructions and terms. Massachusetts residents must add 5%
state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America we are
committed to upholding high professional standards and making sure your
bookbuying experience is enjoyable.

Subscribe to the free Rare Books Mailing List
http://www.rarebooksmailinglist.com