Beschreibung:

EDWARDS, George (1694-1773). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals [ Histoire naturelle d'oiseaux peu communs: et d'autres animaux rares & qui n'ont pas éte decrits ]. London: for the Author, 1743-1747-1750-1751. [ With :] Gleanings of Natural History [ Glanures d'histoire naturelle ]. London: for the Author, 1758-1760-1764.
EDWARDS, George (1694-1773). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals [ Histoire naturelle d'oiseaux peu communs: et d'autres animaux rares & qui n'ont pas éte decrits ]. London: for the Author, 1743-1747-1750-1751. [ With :] Gleanings of Natural History [ Glanures d'histoire naturelle ]. London: for the Author, 1758-1760-1764. Together 7 volumes, 4° (292 x 230mm). Text in English and French, handcoloured engraved frontispiece, title of vol. I with engraved vignette, 362 numbered handcoloured engraved plates, Natural History with 2 uncoloured plates of Samojeeds in volume II and a list of subscribers in volume IV, Gleanings with engraved portrait by J.S. Miller after Dandridge, list of subscribers in volumes II and III. (Occasional staining, spotting and soiling to text.) Uniformly bound in contemporary red straight-grained morocco gilt, gilt edges (lightly rubbed at extremities and spines lightly darkened). Provenance : James Robson (1733–1806; bookseller’s note pasted on endpapers of vol. I and inscription in each volume dated 8 April 1801 presenting the book to the Royal Institution). FIRST EDITION, ONE OF ONLY 13 COPIES FULLY COLOURED BY THE AUTHOR . The publication of Edwards's Natural History and Gleanings is complex, and copies are found in a variety of states. The present set has the complete run of plates numbered 1-362. Natural History : Part I (Lisney 188 and 192) is a first edition, first issue, interleaved with the French edition and bound with two other works usually found in the first edition, third issue (Lisney 190): Some Memoirs of the Life and Works of George Edwards . London: for J. Robson 1776. With engraved portrait and 4 engraved plates; and Carolus LINNAEUS. A Catalogue of the Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Insects . London: for J. Robson 1776; Part II (Lisney 195 and 197) is a first edition, third issue, interleaved with the French edition (the title-page is from Lisney 193); Part III (Lisney 198 and 200) and Part IV (Lisney 201 and 203) are first editions interleaved with the French editions. Gleanings : Part I (Lisney 205) is a first edition, first issue; Part II (Lisney 209) is a first edition, second issue and Part III (Lisney 211) is a first edition.