John Cotton | The Song Birds of Great Britain, London, 1836, nineteenth-century green half morocco

John Cotton

The Song Birds of Great Britain; containing delineations of thirty-three birds, of the natural size (including the genus sylvia of Latham,) coloured principally from living specimens, with some account of their habits, and occasional directions for their treatment in confinement. London: privately printed by Samuel Bentley, 1836

8vo (233 x 147mm.), 33 fine hand-coloured etched plates, some heightened with gum arabic, nineteenth-century green half morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands in six gilt compartments, gilt edges, marbled endpapers, light scattered spotting, slightly browned at extremities, extremities slightly rubbed

"Much esteemed for the fidelity and beauty of its life-size hand-coloured plates, drawn by the author" (Mullens & Swann). This is the first issue of the two parts together (see Ripley & Scribner). The first part with 17 plates was originally published in 1835 with the title The Resident Song Birds of Great Britain, the second part with 16 plates had the title The Summer Migrant Song Birds of Great Britain.

LITERATURE:

Fine Bird Books, p. 68; Freeman 825; McGill/Wood, p. 301; Mullens & Swann, pp. 148-149; Ripley, p. 67

PROVENANCE:

William Hall, MD, engraved armorial bookplate