Gould, John

A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans. London: Published by the Author, [1833–] 1834 [–1835] — Supplement to the First Edition of A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans. London: Published by the Author, 1855



2 works bound in one volume, folio (21 1/4 x 14 1/2 in.; 541 x 368 mm). 53 fine handcolored lithographed plates after and by Edward Lear, Elizabeth Gould, John Gould, and H. R. Richter (33 from the first edition, 20 from the Supplement), one uncolored lithographed anatomical plate after and by G. Scharf, dedication leaf, list of subscribers, separate title-page for the Supplement, plates on guards; occasional light spotting, plate of Swainson's toucan browned at margins extending into image, dedication leaf remargined at fore-edge. Contemporary green morocco, covers elaboratly gilt-panelled, front cover gilt-lettered, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; front joint broken, extremities rubbed.

Alfred Malherbe, French naturalist and author of the celebrated woodpecker book, Monographie de picidées ou histoire naturelle des picidés, picumninés, yuncinés ou torcols, Metz, 1861–1863, with his neat autograph ornithological and bibliographical annotations at the head and foot of many plates (Sotheby's London, 16 November 2006, lot 101)

Ayer/Zimmer 252; Copenhagen/Anker 170; Fine Bird Books 77; McGill/Wood 364; Nissen, IVB 378; Sauer 3, 20

First edition, with Supplement, of Gould's first monograph of a bird family and one of his "most lovely works" (Great Bird Books). The ten finest plates in this work are by Edward Lear. In the revised and expanded second edition of 1854, some of Lear's plates were eliminated and others were reworked by the Goulds.