88 Antoine-François Prévost (1697–1763) – Guinea Birds, Including the Royal Bird and Swan of Guinea – Engraving (Circa 1747)
This detailed zoological illustration depicts a variety of exotic African birds, including cranes, wildfowl (like the presumed Swan of Guinea or Crowned Crane, and Wild Turkeys), arranged in a tropical landscape setting. The print serves as a natural history plate, illustrating species described in the travel narratives, many of which are noted for their distinctive appearance or size, such as the elegant Demoiselle de Numidie (Demoiselle Crane). This illustration was published as a visual supplement in the massive 18th-century French compendium, the Histoire Générale des Voyages, edited by Abbé Prévost, providing European readers with images of the remarkable fauna encountered by explorers in Guinea, West Africa.
Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles, known as the Abbé Prévost, was a prominent French author, novelist, and historian of the 18th century, famous for his novel Manon Lescaut. He spent years compiling and editing the encyclopedic Histoire Générale des Voyages (General History of Voyages). This monumental work, which synthesized travel accounts from around the world, was a major publishing success of the Enlightenment, and Prévost's editorial effort was instrumental in shaping European perceptions of distant cultures and geographies.
Artist or Maker: Antoine-François Prévost
Dimensions: Approximately 26 × 19 cm
Medium: Engraving
Date: Circa 1747
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 250 - 350 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 24.4% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
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