A History of British Birds, with coloured Illustrations of their Eggs. Vol. I-III + Plates [with signed letter]

Description:

First edition. Fine colour plates of eggs lithographed by Hanhart.

Henry Seebohm (1832-1895) was a British steel manufacturer, amateur ornithologist and oologist. He travelled widely in Europe in search of rare birds and eggs. He wrote a number of books, and numerous scientific papers. According to Mullens & Swann (1917), '... his reputation as an ornithologist rests largely upon his History of British Birds, a thoroughly original work, being compiled for the most part from the author's personal observations in the field instead of from the writings of others ...'

Mullens & Swann p. 517.

Condition

4 vols, roy. 8vo, orig. dark green half morocco, gt, raised bands to spines, gt titles and decorative motifs to compartments, teg; light stain to bottom edge of boards to Vol. III; spotting to fore-edges. Some foxing to endpapers, preliminaries and occasionally to text. Plates guarded, some with light foxing to margins or versos. Very good and finely bound set. Armorial bookplates of Thomas James Monk. Signed manuscript letter from Seebohm, dated 9th July 1883, tipped in at front of Plate volume - concerning specimens of the 'wild canary' sent to him by the recipient of the letter, 'through Mr Swaysland', and on the identity of specimens of serin and possible confusion with the 'wild canary'.