Buffon, G. L. L. - Naturgeschichte der Vögel. Band 15, 25 kolorierte Kupferstiche - 1791

Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, was a pioneering French naturalist whose monumental work 'Naturgeschichte der Vögel' ('Natural History of the Birds') contributed significantly to ornithology and natural history in the 18th century. This 1791 publication, featuring 25 hand-colored copperplate engravings, exemplifies how naturalists combined detailed visual art with scientific observation to document bird species. Buffon’s approach emphasized detailed description, classification, and an early notion of species variation, preceding Darwinian theory. His works were widely influential for both scientific audiences and artistic collectors attracted to natural subjects, marking an important step in the Enlightenment's engagement with the natural world.