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

Description:

Mixed set. Vol. I-III (Text) are the 1896 Nimmo reprints; Vol. IV (Plates) is the first edition with fine chromolithographic plates 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, mixed bindings: Vol. I-III: orig. cloth, lightly rubbed, gilt title to spines; page edges uncut, spotting/foxing throughout; Vol. II with short tear to foot of spine; Vol. IV: cont. half leather, marbled boards, heavily scuffed/worn, rear board loose with text block detached from binding. Plates clean. Good.