A History of the Birds of Europe, including all the Species inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region. Vol. I-IX [with] Eggs of the Birds of Europe, including all the Species inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Area. Vol. I-II

Description:

First edition. Scarce. A monumental work on the avifauna of Europe, including a total of 736 species, with Dresser attempting to cover all identified species across Europe, from the Azores, the Canary Islands and Madeira, North Africa, to the Urals, Caucasus, Turkey, Syria, part of Persia and across to the Red Sea. Fine hand-coloured lithographic plates of birds (heightened in gum arabic) by J.G. Keulemans, Joseph Wolf, E. Neale and A. Thorburn, printed by M. & N. Hanhart, Walter and the Mintern Brothers. Also includes the two volumes on eggs with colour plates printed by Andre & Sleigh Ltd., produced using the three-colour process, to illustrate the subtleties of bird egg markings. Henry Eeles Dresser (1838-1915) was an English businessman and ornithologist. He joined the British Ornithologists' Union in 1865, and served as Secretary between 1882 and 1888. The Birds of Europe was originally published in 84 parts between 1871 and 1882 (Vol. I-VIII), and a Supplement (Vol. IX), originally published in 9 parts appeared in 1895-1896. The text was begun by Dresser in conjunction with Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, however the latter's involvement ended with the 12th part, when he took up an appointment at the British Museum. Eggs of the Birds of Europe was originally published in 24 parts between 1905 and 1912.

Anker 120, 121; Mullens & Swann p. 179, 180; Nissen IVB 267, 268; Sitwell p. 92; Wood p. 324; Zimmer pp. 177-178, 179.

Condition

11 vols, large 4to (324x250mm): Birds, 9 vols, cont. red half morocco, raised bands to spines, gilt and black rules between compartments, beaded gilt rule to bands, gilt motifs to compartments, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt, additional wood-engraved title pages; Eggs, 2 vols, cont. red half morocco by Geo. & A. Grant, spines closely matching the main set, with the same gilt motifs to spine compartments, but with red cloth boards. Birds: some minor rubbing/scuffing to corners; small chips to three head caps; Eggs: heavier scuffing to leather on joints and corners. Orig. printed blue wrappers to The Birds of Europe Vol. I-VIII (parts I-LXXXIV) bound at the end of Vol. I, together with various prospectuses, temporary title pages and lists of subscribers; part wrappers for Eggs of the Birds of Europe (parts I-XXIV) bound at the rear of Vol. II. Occasional isolated light spotting, but a very clean attractive set.

Provenance: Birds, Vol. I with bookplate of H.E. Dresser; Vol. I-VIII with bookplate of Lewis Balfour Bequest, British Ornithologists Union; Eggs with armorial bookplate of Hanbury Barclay, with his heraldic emblems also in gilt to lower spine compartments.