A history of the birds of Europe including all the species inhabiting the western palaearctic region.

9 vol., folio; 723 pl. (some occ. light foxing).

Contemp. red half morocco, gilt spine with raised bands, top edges gilt.

An attractively bound set in first edition with the rare supplement of this monumental work on the European avifauna based by the author on his collection of 12.000 bird skins. Originally publ. in 84 parts between 1871 and 1882, a further 9 supplementary parts appeared between 1895 and 1896, which are complete in this set. Ill. with 9 lithographic titles, 723 lithographic plates (721 hand-coloured) by M. & N. Hanhart, Walter and the Mintern Brothers after J. G. Keulemans, Joseph Wolf and E. Neale, plates numbered consecutively throughout and text paginated within each volume with neat stamps. "Dresser's text is highly scientific, his aim being to give a comprehensive account of all the European birds. Each species mentioned in the text was illustrated. The usual "Gouldian" formula is followed with most birds perched either on a branch or on the ground, fairly detailed foreground plants and terrain, a lightly sketched background, pale blue tinted sky. As the birds themselves, there is usually one per page for the larger species, two where it is necessary to show the difference in plumage between male and female, and an occasional chick or immature bird" (Jackson. Bird Illustrators, p. 94).
Ref. Nissen (IVB) 267. - Anker 120.