HUME, [Allan], and MARSHALL, C. H. T. The Game Birds of India, Burmah, and Ceylon. Calcutta: [and Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bengladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet].  Published by A.0. Hume and C. H. T. Marshall, [1879-81].

First edition. Illustrated with engraved title pages in each volume and 141 chromolithographic plates and 3 lithographed title pages, most of them depicting birds but with 4 plates of eggs. 8vo, original black clothe, rebacked in morocco with gilt lettering, new endpapers. [1], [3], ii, 279; [1], ii, 264; [1], ii, 438, vi pp. The plates in volume one have a small damp stain in the blank corners, which does not extend into the images and doesn't appear on any of the text leaves. Otherwise a very clean set.

An ambitious undertaking - The entire cost of the production was borne by Hume, and it was for this reason that the set was published in limited number. The compilers originally intended to use hand-colored engravings for The plates, but when they realized that it would take five years to have the necessary plates colored, they fell back on chromolithography. The text is by Hume; Marshall's contribution was to get the plates produced in London and brought back to India. This landmark study in the history of Ornithology offers an in-depth study of nearly 150 birds found in Indian sub-continent. A.O. Hume, generally known as the father of Indian National Congress, was also a keen Ornithologist. He is commonly referred to as the 'Pope of Indian Ornithology' owing to his immense contribution to ornithological studies. 

During his time in India Hume accumulated the largest collection of Asiatic birds in the world, which he housed in a museum and library at his home in Simla. He used this collection to produce a massive publication on all the birds of India. Unfortunately this work was lost in 1885 when his servants sold all of Hume’s manuscripts as waste paper. He also started the quarterly journal Stray Feathers - A journal of ornithology for India and dependencies in 1872. He used the journal to publish descriptions of his new discoveries, such as Hume's Owl, Hume's Wheatear and Hume's Whitethroat. This beautiful work is still considered to be the ultimate in Indian ornithology.

VOLUME 1

VOLUME 2

VOLUME 3

ITEM # HUME-1

PRICE $1,225.00