Tucker, A.G.C. Ornithologia Danmoniensis: Or, An History of the Habits and Economy of Devonshire Birds. Volume I - Part II.
1st. Ed. Pub. T. Cadell and W. Davies, Strand. 1809 pp.xli-lxxxviii, with 3 plates in two states (hand-coloured and uncoloured). 4to. Text uncut. This copy also comes with an additional 3 uncoloured plates not usually present. In original wrapper. Rare.
This was the first English attempt at compiling a local avifauna. Two of the planned 24 parts were published. The fine plates feature illustrations of The Green Woodpecker, The Young Hen Harrier and The Yellow Wagtail.
£650.00 [ref: 54747]

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Van Pelt Lechner, A.A. Oologia Neerlandica. Eggs of Birds Breeding in the Netherlands.
1st. Ed. Pub. Martinus Nijhoff. 1910-13 Two volumes depicting 667 birds eggs over 191 individually mounted, chromolithograph and heliotype plates. Tissue guards. Collated and complete. Crown 4to. TEG. English text. Bound in half-morocco leather over marbled boards; raised bands, spines richly decorated and lettered in gilt. Spines show a little uniform sunning. Very minor spotting, o/w. contents clean and in fine condition. Boards near fine condition. A very handsome set of this very scarce and highly regarded work. Prov: Francois Haverschmidt (1906-1987), the world renowned Dutch ornithologist - his ownership inscription dated September 1926 on front free endpapers.
‘A work on the eggs of the birds of Holland, of unusual merits...(it) was issued in an edition of 250 copies, 100 of which were printed in English [the rest in Dutch] (Zimmer II, 651). The work was very well received. A review in the American Ornithologists Union journal ‘The Auk’ (Apr. 1914), said upon the release of the last four parts, ‘The unusually high standard of both plates and letter press is fully maintained and the work will take its place as one of the noteworthy publications dealing with birds’ eggs - an example of what can be done in scientific oological investigation’.
£3,500.00 [ref: 54707]

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Verner, Willoughby. My Life Among The Wild Birds of Spain.
1st. Ed. Pub. John Bale, Sons & Danielsson. 1909 pp.xvi, 468 with many b/w. photos. and illus. in text and fold-out view of Bearded Vulture's nesting station on linen as published at rear. Large 8vo. Hardback. Very minor, very occasional spotting, o/w. contents fine. With the bookplate of Herbert Massey to front pastedown. With one note in pencil reference the number of eggs laid by Raven in Britain. Original decorated green cloth boards, spine more recently relaid, and very pleasingly, the original end-papers retained in tact, all in nr. fine condition. A scarce work with super provenance.
Herbert Massey (1852-1939) ‘created one of the finest private collections of birds’ eggs ever to be formed in Britain.....The quality of his collection was paramount and contained some of the rarest specimens ever assembled in one collection.....His eggs of the Limicolae were so outstanding that Frank Poynting chose to base his illustrations in his classic ‘Eggs of British Birds - Limicolae’ (1895/96) from specimens in Massey’s collection.....Herbert Massey was a remarkable oologist. Kind hearted and generous, he was not subject to outbreaks of irritability or petulance to which some of his fellow oologists were sometimes prone at meetings.’ (Cole and Trobe).
£950.00 [ref: 60808]

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Wood, Neville. British Song Birds; Being popular descriptions and anecdotes of the Choristers of the Groves.
1st. Ed. Pub. John W. Parker. 1836 pp.xii, 408 plus Synoptical Table, Index and 4-page Catalogue of books published by John W. Parker. Small 8vo. Hardback. Short closed tear neatly repaired to ffep., o/w. contents nr. fine. Three neat ownership inscriptions. Original decorated cloth with gilt lettering to spine, small nick to top of spine (gently sunned) o/w. in very pleasing thor. vg. condition.
Mullens and Swann wrote of Neville Wood that he ‘was an amateur possessed of considerable knowledge’ and ‘he is chiefly known as the editor of a periodical called ‘The Naturalist’’.
£300.00 [ref: 60429]

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Yarrell, William. A History of British Birds.
4th. Rev. Ed. Pub. Van Voorst 1871-1885 Four volume set with 564 fine wood-engravings. 8vo. Hardbacks. With Errata. Contents fine. Original blue cloth bindings with gilt lettering to spine, gently sunned to spines, showing some rubbing and wear to spine ends and front external hinge of Vol. I, o/w. in vg. plus condition. With neat inscription of E.W.H. Blagg, dated 1889 and bookplate of The Daltry Library, the private library insignia of Thomas William Daltry (1832-1904) clergyman and amateur naturalist, to each volume.
The last and best edition, revised and enlarged by Alfred Newton and Howard Saunders. 'The value of his [Yarrell's] works and the admiration which they evoke may be said to be due to the accuracy of the information they contain, together with the simplicity of their style and the charm and fidelity of the illustrations' (Mullens and Swann)
£175.00 [ref: 62679]

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Yarrell, William. A History of British Birds.
4th. Rev. Ed. Pub. Van Voorst 1871-1885 Four volume set with 564 fine wood-engravings. Half and full-titles present, errata and 16-page Van Voorst Catalogue (dated May 1884). 8vo. Hardbacks. Occasionally cords a little stretched, o/w. contents very clean and nr. fine. Numerous period notes and insertions. Original cloth binding showing some wear and repair, in. vg. condition overall. A fascinating set of the last and best edition, revised and enlarged by Alfred Newton and Howard Saunders
This set was clearly owned by a knowledgeable, well-connected and travelled Victorian ornithologist. There are numerous highly considered observations and comments in pencil to the text. Places mentioned include the New Forest, Northumberland, the Camargue and Sardinia with dates ranging from 1852 to 1899. He knew his contemporaries and their collections, e.g. that of Edward Heale Rodd, since reference is made to it. He was knowledgeable about period works, specifically referencing John Gould's 'Birds of Great Britain' and Seebohm's 'A History of British Birds'. Period articles have been inserted: 'Yellowshanks' by [Rev.] F.O. Morris, 'Eggs of the Cuckoo and the foster parents' from The Field (1896), part of an article detailing the legality of taking eggs by County (namely Berwickshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumberland and Devonshire) and two further articles 'The Mountain Partridge' and 'The Little Bustard'.
£325.00 [ref: 60062]

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Yarrell, William. A History of British Birds.
1st. Ed. Pub. John Van Voorst. [1837]-43 Three volume set with wood engraved vignettes throughout. Four-page Van Voorst catalogue to Vol. I (dated April 1838) and 20-page, illustrated Van Voorst catalogue with original wrappers (dated May 1843) to Vol. III. Royal 8vo. Hardbacks. Contents exceptionally clean and in fine condition. Original cloth binding and labels showing a little shelf wear, o.w. in thor. vg. condition / nr. fine condition. With armorial bookplate of William Martin to each volume. A super set of the scarce large paper issue of which Van Voorst published a small number.
Originally published in bi-monthly parts (from 1837), this set contains the temporary half-titles, indexes plus finalised title pages and additional leaves to rear of Vol. III.
£600.00 [ref: 59830]

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