Christopher Webb Smith and Charles d'Oyly | Oriental ornithology, Patna, 1829, 2 volumes

Christopher Webb Smith and Charles d’Oyly

Oriental ornithology. [Patna]: Behar Lithographic Press, 1829

2 volumes, oblong folio (290 x 460mm.), hand-coloured lithographed title, 24 plates on india paper re-mounted on later paper, the birds coloured by hand, the backgrounds plain, original lithographed wrappers, preserved in a red morocco-backed clamshell case by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, lower wrapper to first part possibly replaced, rebacked

FIRST EDITION, WITH VERY FINE COLOURING, LIKELY BY CHRISTOPHER WEBB SMITH, who drew the birds, while D'Oyly provided the landscape and still-life backgrounds. "D'Oyly's landscapes are well drawn and have atmosphere, and the work is a most creditable production of this amateur press" (Abbey).

Copies with 24 plates are uncommon at auction.

LITERATURE:

Abbey, Travel 453; Fine Bird Books, p. 108 (12 plates only); Nissen IVB 881 (12 plates only); Zimmer, p. 595 (12 plates only)