Beschreibung:

Lilford (Thomas Littleton Powys, 4th Baron). Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands, 7 volumes, 2nd edition, London: R. H. Porter, 1891-7, photogravure portrait frontispiece, 421 hand-coloured lithographic or chromolithographic plates by Keulemans, Thorburn and others, all plates and text-leaves mounted on linen stubs, tissue-guards in volume 6 (one loose), text and plates hand-numbered in pencil, plates occasionally spotted or offset, a few heavily-inked plates with paper residue from facing text-leaves, a few plates toned, top edges gilt, original green half morocco gilt (ink-stamps 'Bound by R. H. Porter' to front free endpapers), spines differentially sunned to tan, large 8vo (25 x 16.5 cm) (Qty: 7) THE DAVID WILSON LIBRARY OF NATURAL HISTORY PART II Provenance: 'Lucy Greene, subscribed for by my dear mother for me' (ownership inscriptions to initial blanks); a Mrs Greene is mentioned in the list of subscribers. Anker 308 (second edition: 'beautiful plates'); Fine Bird Books p. 119; Freeman 2244; Mullens & Swann pp. 354-5; Nissen IVB 563; Wood p. 436 (first edition); Zimmer pp. 399-400 (second edition). A handsome set of 'this truly magnificent work' (Wood). The second and first editions are identical except in parts 7-18, in which 'various improvements were made, some of the plates, such as those of the White-tailed or sea-eagle, magpie, golden plover, avocet, oyster-catcher, black-winged stilt, gannet, and spoonbill being much improved' (Mullens & Swann).