THOMAS
GENTRY
NESTS
AND EGGS OF BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES ~ FIRST EDITION ~ BY THOMAS
G. GENTRY ~ PUBLISHED BY J. A. WAGENSELLER 1882 ~
Complete with the intricately
colored chromolithographed portrait title page and 54 beautifully
illustrated full-page color plates. Whitman Bennett, author of A
Practical Guide to American Nineteenth Century Color Plate Books (1949),
had this to say of this work, "Drawings done chiefly by Mr.
Edwin Sheppard of the
Academy
of
Natural Sciences
of
Philadelphia
, acknowledged as the best ornithological artist in
America
" (p. 44).
Gentry's book, originally published in 25 parts from 1880-82, was a
popular chronicle of the nesting habits of 50 species of North
American birds. The plates depict nests, eggs, and the birds
themselves. Ayer, 240. Fine Bird Books 76
BOOK COVERS WERE DETACHED AND
HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WITH CLOTH TAPE. GILT PAGES. MAROON COLORED
COVERS WITH GOLD EMBOSSED DESIGN ON FRONT COVER. MOST BUT NOT ALL OF
THE PLATES HAVE WATER STAINS ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGES (SEE SCANS).
EACH PLATE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL TISSUE PAPER GUARD. CONTENTS PAGE
IS TORN AT THE BOTTOM.
THE FRONT PIECE BELOW IS A BLACK AND WHITE
PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR WITH HIS SIGNATURE.
INDEX TO IMAGES
