Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. 1874-1898. 27 volumes

Property from the Library at Spetchley Park

BRITISH MUSEUM

Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. London: Printed by order of the Trustees, 1874-1898

FIRST EDITION, 27 volumes, 8vo (220 x 134mm.), 387 hand-coloured lithographed and chromolithographed plates after drawings by J.G. Keulemans, J. Smit and W. Hart, illustrations in text, 24 volumes with list of plates, some volumes with list of Natural History publications for the British Museum, notice slips at some titles, original brown cloth, volume 10, 11, 21 lacking list of plates, a few plates or leaves slightly shorter, occasional browning, one plate repaired, sold as a periodical not subject to return

''Unquestionably the most important work on systematic ornithology that has ever been published'' (Zimmer). The contributors included R.B. Sharpe, H. Seebohm, P.L. Sclater, O. Salvin, G.E. Shelley, and others.

LITERATURE:

Nissen IVB 175; Fine Bird Books, p.107

PROVENANCE:

George Dawson Rowley (1822-1878), volume one with his signature to title