L12405

/

Lot 47
  • 47

Bolton, James.

Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Harmonia Ruralis; Or, an essay towards a natural history of British song birds... a new edition, revised and very considerably augmented. London: W. Simpkin and R. Marshall, 1830
  • paper
2 volumes bound in one, 4to (297 x 233mm.), hand-coloured engraved frontispiece, 80 hand-coloured engraved plates, contemporary diced russia gilt, the covers stamped "Rd. Gregory / Coole" in gilt surrounded by successive borders of blind-tooled cartwheel design, a single gilt fillet, a wide elaborately foliate design, and a double gilt fillet, the spine tooled gilt in compartments with bird motif, marbled edges, [Nissen IVB 115], occasional spotting, spine faded

Provenance

Richard Gregory, Coole, Ireland, engraved armorial bookplates and gilt stamps on covers; thence by descent to Lady Augusta Gregory, sale ("Printed Book formerly in the Library at Coole, the Property of the Lady Gregory Estate"), Sotheby's, 20 March 1972, lot 58, £240, Pickering and Chatto

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

The Coole copy. This posthumous edition of Bolton's charming work is arguably the best: as Christine Jackson remarks "in the later editions... the colouring is so much improved that at a casual glance it almost seems a different book" (Christine Jackson, Bird Etchings, p.170).