John Gould | The birds of Asia, 1850-1883, 7 volumes, contemporary green half morocco

John Gould

The birds of Asia. London: the Author, 1850-1883

FIRST EDITION, 7 volumes, folio (541 x 359mm.), list of subscribers, list of plates, 530 hand-coloured lithographed plates by Gould, H.C. Richter, Joseph Wolf and W. Hart, printed by Hullmandel & Walton, T. Walter or Walter & Cohn, contemporary green half morocco

THE FIRST AND ARGUABLY THE FINEST DEDICATED WORK ON THE BIRDS OF THE ASIAN CONTINENT AND ITS VICINITIES.

Gould was fascinated with the rich, vibrant colours of Asian birds as well as their exotic foliage and setting. His backgrounds are intensely detailed, and though the work was issued across such a long period, the quality of the plates remained of the highest standard. The ambitious and monumental publication was a notable success, with esteemed subscribers such as Queen Victoria, the Emperor of Austria and kings from Belgium, Hanover and Portugal.

Covering "Species from Palestine to the westward, and from the Moluccas to the east" (Sharpe), the work took 34 years to complete. The final three parts were published posthumously by Sharpe in 1881.

For more information about Gould, please refer to Lot 88.

LITERATURE:

Anker 178; Fine Bird Books, p. 78; Nissen IVB 368; Sauer 17; Zimmer, p. 258