Lot 41
  • 41

Elliot, Daniel Giraud

Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 USD
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Description

  • book
A Monograph of the Phasianidae or Family of the Pheasants. New York: by the author, [1870–] 1872

2 volumes, folio (23 1/4 x 18 3/8 in.; 592 x 466 mm). 79 fine handcolored lithographed plates after J. Wolf and J. Smit by J. G. Keulemans, colored by J. D. White, 2 uncolored lithographed plates of generic characters after and by Smit on india paper mounted, list of subscribers, lists of plates; plate of the feathers of the ocellated argue pheasant untrimmed and folded at bottom margin with tear at imprint. Contemporary half green morocco over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; extremities rubbed, especially heads of spines.

Literature

Ayer/Zimmer 206; Copenhagen/Anker 130; Fine Bird Books 74; McGill/Wood 331; Nissen, IVB 295

Catalogue Note

First edition of this opulent work, "the equal in every way to any work by Gould" (Fine Bird Books). The text by Elliot is cited by both Zimmer and Wood as probably the finest of his monographs, while the plates by Wolf (to whom The Pheasants is dedicated) earn him "the same rank as Audubon and Edward Lear as a bird-painter" (Fine Bird Books). A fine copy, with clean, vividly colored plates.