Albin, Eleazar

Estimate

5,000 - 7,000 GBP

Sold

17,500 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

A Natural History of Birds. London: printed for the author, sold by William Innys [etc.], 1731-34, 1740
Paper

FIRST EDITIONS of volumes 1 and 2, second edition of volume 3, 3 volumes, 4to (280 x 220mm.), 306 hand-coloured engravings, list of subscribers, contemporary sprinkled calf gilt, very minor staining, spotting and browning, a few plates trimmed, worming at end of volume 3, rebacked and repaired retaining original spines

Provenance

Henry Rolle, bookplates and inscription in volume one, dated 1736; G. Heywood Hill Ltd., receipt laid in and dated 1946

Literature

Fine Bird Books, p. 54; Nissen IVB 14

Catalogue Note

A handsomely illustrated work by Eleazar Albin (1690–c.1742), naturalist and watercolour painter. "The work was the first on birds to use coloured plates and made Albin one of the first successful compilers of the genre of profusely illustrated natural history books for the non-specialist reader" (ONDB).