BEEBE, WILLIAM CHARLES | A Monograph of the Pheasants. London: published under the auspices of the New York Zoological Society by Witherby and Co., 1918-1927

 BEEBE, WILLIAM CHARLES

A Monograph of the Pheasants. London: published under the auspices of the New York Zoological Society by Witherby and Co., 1918-1927

4 volumes, folio (15 15/16 x 11 3/4 in.; 405 x 298 mm). Titles in red and black, 90 colored lithograph or collotype plates after A. Thorburn, G.E. Lodge, H. Gronvold, L.A. Fuertes, Chas. R. Knight, H. Jones, and E. Megargee, 88 photogravure plates (many with 2 images) from photographs by Beebe and others, 20 distribution maps printed in red and black by Stanford's, the chromolithographs and photogravures with captioned tissue-guards; some toning, closed tears to a few guards. Publisher's maroon cloth, upper covers and spines lettered in gilt, top edge gilt; some minor rubbing to extremities.

First edition, number 395 of 600 copies printed. "Perhaps the greatest ornithological work of the present century, notable not only for its beauty and the wealth of information it contains, but also for the unusual grace of its prose" (Ellis/Mengel). Beebe's text is based on his own extensive expeditions through Asia, as well as his study of the collections of the leading natural history museums around the world.

REFERENCE:

Ayer/Zimmer 49; Copenhagen/Anker 31; Ellis/Mengel 203; McGill/Wood 228; Nissen, IVB 84; Nissen, SVB 84; Tate 119