Delacour, Jean

The Waterfowl of the World, in 4 volumes, in a color pictorial slipcase

London: Country Life, 1975. Seventh and final printing. Pp. 1174, 66 fine color plates by Peter Scott, 10 black-and-white plates, 108 maps, 37 text-figures. Publisher’s original tan cloth, gilt decorations on the spine and gilt border decorations on the front cover, lettered in brown on the spine, in original clear plastic dust jackets housed in a color pictorial cloth-covered slipcase, sm 4to (10 x 7 1/2 inches). Contents include: Volume 1: The Magpie Goose, Whistling Ducks, Swans and Geese, Sheldgeese and Shelducks; Volume 2: The Dabbling Ducks; Volume 3: Eiders, Pochards, Perching Ducks, Scoters, Golden-Eyes and Mergansers, Stiff-tailed Ducks; Volume 4: General Habits, The Reproductive Cycle Ecology, Distribution and Species Relationships, Fowling, Conservations and Management, Aviculture, Domestic Waterfowl, The Anatomy of Waterfowl, Fossil Anseriformes, Corrections and Addictions. Volume 1 is signed and dated by the artist Peter Scott on the title page. A fine set in a fine clear dust jackets in a fine slipcase..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9697

Catalogue: Ornithology

Dennis, Nigel and Tarboton, Warwick

Waterbirds: Birds of Southern Africa's Wetlands (the Collector’s edition, limited to 150 numbered copies, signed by the photographer and author)

Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Publishers, 1993. First edition. Pp. 137 (6, subscribers); 250+ color photographs by Dennis Nigel. Publisher’s original blue cloth, front cover with inset color photograph of a Kingfisher, spine with black leather title label lettered in gilt, housed in a blue cloth slipcase that is leather-tipped and with an inset color photograph of a Kingfisher on the front cover, lg 4to (12 1/4 x 11 inches). This is the Collector’s edition, limited to 150 numbered copies, this is no. 22. The limitation page is signed by the photographer (Dennis Nigel) and by the author (Warwick Tarboton). The name of the original subscriber, Dr. and Mrs. D. G. C. Presbury, is neatly printed on the limitation page. Their names also appear in the printed list of subscribers for the Collector’s edition at the end of the volume. A very attractive copy of the Collector’s edition of this important contribution to South African ornithology. A fine copy in a fine slipcase..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9754

Catalogue: Ornithology

Descourlitz, J.T.

Pageantry of Tropical American Birds + Oiseaux Brillans et Remarquables du Bresil

New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1960. First edition. Pp. 23, with 32 fine color plates and 28 plain plates. One-half green cloth over tan cloth, spine is lettered in gilt and with gilt hummingbirds on front cover, color pictorial dust jacket, lg folio (17.5 x 11.5 inches) + Pp. 40 (text). Gray printed wrappers, lg folio, both volumes housed together in gray paper-covered hard slipcase. This is a facsimile reprint of the extremely rare ""Oiseaux Brillans du Bresil"" originally published in 1835. There is an English commentary by J. Moojen in the first volume and the second volume in wrappers is a facsimile reprint of the original text by Descourlitz. No ownership marks. A bright and clean set in near fine condition..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9745

Catalogue: Ornithology

Elliot, Daniel Giraud

A Monograph of the Pittidae, or Family of Ant Thrushes (first edition)

New York: D. Appleton, 1863. First edition. Pp. 1p: dedication to Philip Lutley Sclater, 1p: list of subscribers, 2p: preface, 14p: introduction, and with 31 fine hand-colored lithographic plates, heightened with gum arabic (24 plates are signed by Elliot, 4 plates by Paul Louis Oudart, 1 plate is by E. Maubert, 1 plate is by Mesnel, 1 plate is unsigned). Each plate is accompanied by 2-3 pages of descriptive text. Bound in later one-half green morocco leather over the original marbled boards with the original matching marbled endpapers, spine with 5 raised bands outlined by gilt panel lines, 2 compartments with red morocco labels lettered in gilt, all page edges in gilt, folio (21 7/16 x 13 5/8 inches), housed in a custom-made velvet-lined clam-shell box with a one-quarter green leather spine over burnt red cloth boards made by Brockman Bindery in the UK. This is the first edition of the first of D.G. Elliot’s great bird monographs. This monograph was limited to 200 copies only. Elliot drew and colored the plates for this work. This is the only work he published that he also illustrated. Elliot originally hired artist Paul Louis Oudart to do the illustrations, but Outdart died after completing just four plates. Rather than trying to find another artist, Elliot decided to take on the responsibility of illustrating the work himself. Elliot illustrated the birds in vibrant shades of blues, greens and reds, and the birds are placed against beautifully drawn landscapes. Elliot took great care to ensure that the flowers and foliage shown in detail with the birds were appropriate for the species shown. The Pittidae described are native to Borneo, Nepal, Ceylon, the Philippines, New Guinea, and Cambodia amongst other places. As with many other tropical birds, the Pittidae are brightly colored which likely influenced Elliot to choose the Pittidae as the subject of his first monograph. A rare and spectacular ornithological work, the first book by Elliot with his own illustrations, and the scarcest of his major monographs. This copy bears the signature of George N. Lawrence on the front endpaper. George N. Lawrence is also listed as one of the original subscribers of the work. George Newbold Lawrence (October 20, 1806 – January 17, 1895) was an American businessman and amateur ornithologist. See also Fine Bird Books (1990), p. 95; BM (NH) vol. I, p.522; Nissen IVB 292; Sabin 22228 (noting that only 200 copies were printed); Wood p. 332; Whittell pp. 225-226; and Zimmer p. 208. A fine copy in a fine binding housed in a fine slipcase, a magnificent copy..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9593

Catalogue: Ornithology

Elliot, D.G.

REVIEW OF THE IBIDINAE OR SUBFAMILIES OF IBISES.

London: Zoological Society, 1877. Pp. 35, 1 full page hand-colored plate. Contemporary brown wraps, 8vo. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1877. Brown wrappers are chipped and aged with old cellotape applied to the spine, the text and plate are bright and clean with no foxing, a very good copy..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1894

Catalogue: Ornithology

Keywords: Ibis Hand-colored plates ornithology long-legged wading birds family Threskiornithidae Natural Sciences Natural Science

Everett, Michael

The Birds of Paradise

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1978. First edition. Pp. 144; 58 full page color plates from illustrations by Gould, Hart, Keulemans and Hayman, 2 black-and-white plates, 85 maps in two colors. Publisher’s original light brown cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine, color pictorial dust jacket, 4to. Provides descriptions and color illustrations of 42 species of the birds of paradise and 18 species of bowerbirds with distribution maps for each species. Name stamp of the Ron Sauey Memorial Library on rear endpaper and top page edge. Ron Sauey was co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, Wisconsin. Empty pocket on rear blank endpaper. Gift inscription on front endpaper. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9828

Catalogue: Ornithology

Finch-Davies, Claude Gibney

A Celebration of Birds: C.G. Finch-Davies’s Final Album of Southern African Birds (the Collector’s edition limited to 200 numbered copies)

Johannesburg, South Africa: Natural History Books, 1990. Limited edition. Pp. (15), (42), 21 full page color plates from paintings by C.G. Finch-Davies, each accompanied by a page of hand-written notes in facsimile, covering the period 28 March 1918 to 4 April 1920, pp. 21 (descriptions of birds), (10, index). One-half brown leather over marbled boards, lettered in gilt on the spine, housed in a beige cloth-covered and leather-tipped slipcase, as issued, sm 4to (7 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches). This is the Collector’s edition limited to 200 numbered copies, this volume is no. 93 of the edition. The name of the original subscriber, Maude de Matteis, is neatly printed on the limitation page by the editor. Her name also appears in the printed list of subscribers for the Collector’s edition at the end of the volume. A fine copy in a fine slipcase..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9752

Catalogue: Ornithology

Finsch, O. and Hartlaub, G.

Beitrag zur Fauna Centralpolynesiens. Ornithologie der Viti-, Samoa- und Tonga- Inseln.

Halle, Germany: H.W. Schmidt, 1867. First edition. Pp. xxxix, (1), 290; 14 hand-colored lithographed plates drawn and lithographed by Otto Finsch (9 plates of birds and 5 plates of eggs). Recent one-half green calf leather, spine with five raised bands that is lettered in gilt in two compartments, over green French marbled boards with pale green endpapers (original printed front wrapper bound in at rear), lg 8vo (260 x 170 mm, 10 1/4 x 6 5/8 inches). This work presents the ornithology of Viti, Samoa and Tonga Islands in central Polynesia. Wood (341) observes ""this monograph is of especial interest to students of Polynesian ornithology. Anker (141) states ""In this valuable contribution to the avifauna of Polynesia, G. Hartlaub has prepared the preface, the introduction, and the diagnoses, the remaining part of the text being written by Finsch. The work is based chiefly on material collected by Dr. E. Graffe, but deals with all birds known from the area in question, -- altogether 99 species as well as ten doubtful ones."" See also comments by Zimmer 219 and Nissen IVB, 315. No ownership marks. Small bumps to two outer corners before binding was put on, front wrapper (bound in at rear) is a little soiled and with one small stain, last two color plates show some old soiling along the bottom margin with no effect to the color images, text is bright and clean and recent calf binding is very attractive; a tight copy in very good condition..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 5358

Catalogue: Ornithology

Keywords: Ornithology birds avifauna Viti Island Samoa Island Tonga Island Polynesia Oceania Polynesian ornithology Dr. E. Graffe Finsch Hartlaub

Fitzgerald, Theodore C.

The Coturnix Quail: Anatomy and Histology

Ames: Iowa State University Press 1969. First edition. Pp. xix, 306; numerous text-figures (line-drawings). Publisher’s original tan cloth with a drawing of a Coturnix Quail on the front cover, lettered in black on the spine, lg 8vo. Coturnix is a genus of five extant species and five to eight known extinct species of Old World quail (from Wiki). This quail is often used in medical research. No ownership marks. Scarce work. A fine (as new) copy..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9805

Catalogue: Ornithology

Forshaw, Joseph M. and Cooper, William T.

Parrots of the World

Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1973. First American edition. Pp. 584, 158 fine color plates by noted bird artist William Cooper, 179 text figures and distribution maps. Publisher’s original dark red wine cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine, color pictorial dust jacket, folio (395 x 280mm). The scarce original printing of this ornithological classic. The work describes and illustrates all 340 species and some subspecies (500 birds illustrated). Provides descriptions of all species / subspecies include taxonomic measurements, information on distribution, status, habitats, general habits, movement, feeding, call-notes, and nesting habits. The color plates in this first edition are truly spectacular. This large and heavy volume is often found with cracked joints and the text block separated front the binding, this exceptional copy exhibits none of these defects. A fine copy in a tight binding. A fine copy in a near fine dust jacket..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9770

Catalogue: Ornithology

Foss, Carol R. (editor)

Atlas of Breeding Birds in New Hampshire

Dover, UK: Arcadia, 1994. First edition. Pp. xii, 414; 250+ distribution maps. Publisher’s original dark blue cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine, color pictorial dust jacket, lg 4to. Presents breeding evidence for more than 200 species of birds inhabiting the state of New Hampshire. Inscribed to George Archibald, co-director of the International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, Wisconsin by the Audubon Society of New Hampshire on the front endpaper. Name stamp of the Ron Sauey Memorial Library on rear endpaper only. Ron Sauey was co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, Wisconsin. Empty paper pocket on rear endpaper. No other ownership marks. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9787

Catalogue: Ornithology

Friedmann, Herbert

The Cowbirds: A Study in the Biology of Social Parasitism

Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1929. First edition. Pp. xv, 421, 28 photo plates, 12 text-figures. Publisher’s original dark blue cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine and with elaborate gilt scene on the front cover, lg 8vo. Cowbirds are birds belonging to the genus Molothrus in the family Icteridae. They are of New World origin, and are obligate brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other species (from Wiki). Name stamp Ron Sauey Memorial Library on rear endpaper and the top page edge, plain pocket on the rear endpaper, no other ownership marks to the text or cloth binding. Ron Sauey was co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, Wisconsin. A fine, as new, copy..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9733

Catalogue: Ornithology

Gil, Robles Patricio; Eccardi, Fulvio; and Gils, Javier Robles

El Libro De Las Aves De Mexico (Spanish Edition)

Mexico: Centro de Arte Vitro, 1989. First edition. Pp. 351 (1), 300+ color photographs and color plates from paintings. Publisher’s original dark blue cloth, color pictorial dust jacket, oblong folio. The contents follow: prologo, (Allan R. Phillips); introducion; 1. Origen y diversidad de las aves (Javier de la Meza); 2. Errantes del Mar (Enriqueta Velarde); 3. Aves de orilla (Enrique Velarde); 4. Cazadoras de los pantanos (Monica Herzig); 5. Patos y Gansos (Eric W. Gustafson); 6. Predadoras de dia (romeo Dominguez), y de noche (Atahualpa Desucre); 7. Galliformes Y otras aves de caza (Fernando Gonzalez-Garcia); 8. Adaptaciones originales (Lourdes Navarijo); 9. Cazadoras de insectos al vuelo (Steve N. G. Howell); 10. Aves negras, aves de colores (Emilio Tobon); 11. Cantos en las Canadas (Fernando Gonzalez-Garcia); 12. De rama en rama (Judith Vega); 13. Comedoras de semillas (Adolfo Navarro); 14. La diversidad de los paseriformes (Steve N. G. Howell; 15. Las aves y el hombre (Gerardo Ceballos); Listado de las aves de Mexico; Lecturas recommendadas; Acerca de los colaboradores. Small call number of the International Crane Foundation on the spine of the dust jacket, plain pocket on the rear endpaper and name stamp Ron Sauey Memorial Library on the last text page, no other institutional marks to the text or cloth binding. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket with no signs of use..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9689

Catalogue: Ornithology

Gilliard, E. T. and LeCroy, M.

Birds of the Victor Emanuel and Hinderberg Mountains, New Guinea: Results of the American Museum of Natural History Expedition to New Guinea in 1954.

New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1961. First edition. Pp. 86, 17 full-page photo-plates, 1 map. Contemporary green cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine, decorated page edges, lg 8vo. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, volume 123, article 1. The entire 421 page volume 123 is offered here; it includes six other articles including ""A Synopsis of the Lizards of the Sexlineatus Group (Genus Cnemidophorus)"", article 3, pages 155-210, with 8 full page photo-plates. Bookplate of Reading Public Museum on the front endpaper, name stamp of the same museum on the title page, rear endpaper and page edges, small blind-stamp on title page and small gilt call number on the spine. No signs of use. A bright and clean copy in near fine condition..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 5153

Catalogue: Ornithology

Keywords: Ornithology birds avifauna

Gilliard, E. Thomas

On the Breeding Behavior of the Cock-of-the-Rock (Aves, Rupicola rupicola).

New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1962. First edition. Pp. 31-68; 8 full page plates (2 plates are color-photos and 6 plates are black-and-white photos), 6 text-figures. Early green cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine, page edges decorated with green speckles, sm 4to. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, volume 124, article 2. The entire volume 124 of this Bulletin of the AMNH is offered here with 313 pages and 6 other articles in addition to the article by Gilliard offered here. Bookplate of the Reading Public Museum on the front endpaper, gold call number on the spine and name stamp on bottom page edge. No other ownership marks and no signs of use. A tight, bright and clean copy in near fine condition..

Natural History BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 5446

Catalogue: Ornithology