Daniel Giraud Elliot | A monograph of the bucerotidae, or family of hornbills, [1876-] 1882

Daniel Giraud Elliot

A monograph of the bucerotidae, or family of hornbills. [New York]: Published for the subscribers by the Author, [1876-] 1882

FIRST EDITION, folio (383 x 275 mm.), 57 hand-coloured lithographed plates by and after J.G. Keulemans and 3 uncoloured plates, red half morocco by Zaehnsdorf, spine with raised bands in six compartments, top edge gilt, others uncut, marbled endpapers, extremities lightly bumped

A most attractive copy of this ornithological treatise. Elliot cites their peculiar appearance and extraordinary characters among the reasons for choosing the hornbills for this, his fifth and last illustrated monograph. Plate 44, although called for in the list of plates, was never issued.

LITERATURE:

Fine Bird Books, p. 74; Nissen IVB 297; Zimmer, p. 207

PROVENANCE:

Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie (1865-1955), bookplate