Coloured figures of the birds of the British Islands.

7 vol., 8vo: xxxix-[112] pp.; 51 pl., ix-[120] pp.; 54 pl., ix-[130] pp.; 66 pl., ix-[154] pp.; 65 pl., ix-[138] pp.; 59 pl., ix-[150] pp.; 65 pl., ix-[170] pp.; 61 pl. (def. on pp. 4, 89 and 126 of vol. 3 due to offsetting of the plates on the facing text touching some letters).

Later black shagreen with corners, marbled paper on covers, spines with 5 raised bands, marbled endpapers. Good set.

First edition of this important bird book by the British ornithologist and aristocrat Lilford (1833-1896), founder of the British Ornithologists’ Union. Illustrated with a photogravure portrait and 421 beautiful chromo-lithographs mostly executed by W. Greve, Berlin, some by Mintern Bros., Hanhart, and West, Newman. chiefly made from originals by A. Thorburn, J.G. Keulemans, G.E. Lodge and W. Foster, and praised for the accuracy and detail of their work. The short text to each of the birds depicted contains vernacular names in French, German, and Spanish, and an account of the occurrence and habits of the birds, plus sometimes information about their nests and eggs. The book was published in two semi-simultaneous issues, each of 36 parts, between 1885-1897 and 1891-1897 respectively. With a list of subscribers loosely inserted.
Ref. Anker 308. - Nissen (IVB) 563. - COPAC.