Beschreibung:

GOULD, John (1804-1881) and Richard Bowdler SHARPE (1847-1909). The Birds of Asia. London: Taylor and Francis for the Author, 1850-1883. 35 original parts, large 2° (561 x 380mm). 3pp. subscribers' list. 530 FINE HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, most heightened with gum-arabic, by Gould, Henry Constantine Richter, William Hart and Joseph Wolf printed by Hullmandel & Walton, Walter or Walter & Cohn. (Some spotting particularly in the earlier numbers, noticeably affecting the image of about 50 plates, part 13 slightly dampstained affecting the lower margin of one plate, tail of a pheasant shaved in one plate in part 17, 7mm. tear to lower blank margin of one plate in part 30.) Original paper-covered cloth-backed boards, each upper cover with printed title including a wood-engraved vignette (a copy of the 'Monaul' plate in part 2), a list of the birds contained within and the date of publication, (some soiling, particularly to parts 1, 35 and upper covers of parts 20 and 30; covers of part 13 with some dampstaining; tear to front free-endpaper of part 34). FIRST EDITION. A FINE SET OF THE RARE ORIGINAL PARTS. The three final parts were completed by Sharpe after Gould's death in 1881. The descriptions by Sharpe are identified by his initials, those not bearing his initials were presumably printed from Gould's notes. Hart completed the lithographs from Gould's sketches. Ayer/Zimmer pp.258-9; Anker 178; Fine Bird Books p.78; McGill/Wood p.365; Nissen IVB 368; Sauer 17. (35)