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Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands - Lilford

1885-1897 SEVEN VOLUMES

   London: R.H. Porter 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 7 volumes, 8vo (10 x 6 in.; 260 x 250 mm). List of subscribers and photographic frontispiece portrait of Lilford in volume 1, contents, collation of editions, list of plates in each volume, index and appendix at the end of volume 7. PLATES: 421 chromolithographed and hand colored plates after A. Thorburn, J.G. Keulemans, G. E. Lodge, E. Neale, J. Foster, J. Smit, printed by the Chromo-Litho Studio of London, Mintern Brothers, Hanhart, and W. Greve, Berlin, unnumbered except in plates lists. PAPER: Plates on heavy textured wove paper, text on thinner wove paper; both the text and plates mounted on linen guards as issued. BINDING: Contemporary green half morocco gilt, marbled boards, paneled spine with raised bands, lettered gild, and top edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Some spotting to text, plates generally clean. 

   First edition limited to 550 copies. Thorburn received this, his first major commission. While Thorburn's plates are printed in color, many of Keuleman's plates continued to be hand colored. Lilford was well known for his ornithological interests. His aviaries, which he opened to the public once a week, contained one of the finest collections in England of waterfowl and birds of prey. He was a founding member of the British Ornithologists Union and the first president of the Northampthonshire Natural History Society. References: Copenhagen/Anker308; Fine Bird Books 91; McGill/Wood 436; Mullens and Swann 354; Nissen IVB 563; McIlhenny/Perrault 1125; Yale/Ripley 172

PLATE INDEX