Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History
Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History
Lot Closed
May 13, 01:38 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
George Ernest Shelley
A monograph of the nectariniidae, or family of sun-birds. London: published by the author, 1876-1880
FIRST EDITION, 4to (314 x 240mm.), dedication leaf, list of plates, 121 hand-coloured lithographed plates by and after J.G. Keulemans, contemporary red morocco gilt, covers with wide border gilt composed of fillets and leafy and floral sprays, spine gilt in compartments, gilt turn-ins and edges
A FINE COPY FROM THE LIBRARY OF LORD LILFORD.
Only 250 copies of this handsome monograph were printed. Shelley, a nephew of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, made several trips to Africa, where this family of birds is found. The author also stresses the importance of the book’s illustrator:
"The illustrations which form such an important portion of my Monograph, have all been executed by Mr. Keulemans, whose name is sufficient guarantee for the accuracy of the details and for high artistic skill. The latter is rendered perhaps more striking from his being acquainted with this family of birds in their native haunts; and his notes upon the sun-birds inhabiting Prince's Island have been incorporated in my work".
LITERATURE:
Fine Bird Books, p.108; Nissen IVB 873
PROVENANCE:
Thomas Powys, 4th Baron Lilford (1833–1896), monogram gilt at foot of spine