British Diving Ducks. Vol. I-II

Description:

1st edition, limited to only 450 copies. Beautifully illustrated with plates by Archibald Thorburn, O. Murray Dixon, H. Grönvold and the author. John Guille Millais (1865-1931) was British a naturalist, distinguished wildlife artist, and also wrote a two-volume biography of his father, the artist John Everett Millais (1829-1896).

Anker, 342; Nissen IVB, 633.

Condition

2 vols, imp. 4to, bound in exceptionally fine, later twentieth-century full crushed morocco, for Asprey & Co., spines with gt title, raised bands with gilt beaded roll, single gilt rule to spine compartments, covers with gilt single-ruled border, gilt fillet to edges of boards and double-rule to turn-ins, aeg, patterned endpapers. Very slight fading along the top edge of front board to Vol. II. Occasional light foxing. Plates bright and clean. A handsome, elegant set. Original large, folded, four-page prospectus for this work loosely inserted, with slight soiling and fraying to edges and a few edge-tears with neat tape repairs.

Vol. I is copy No. 6 of 450 and is inscribed to original blank flyleaf 'To Archibald Thorburn, from his friend the Author, March 28th 1913'; Vol. II is copy No. 4 of 450. Later ownership signature of Vincent Weir (1935-2014), businessman, naturalist and conservationist, founder of The Vincent Wildlife Trust.