A Natural History of Singing Birds: and particularly that Species of them most commonly bred in Britain … by A Lover of Birds

Description:

An anonymous, pirated edition of Eleazar Albin's 1737 work, A Natural History of English Song-Birds. There is a frotispiece and 20 plates of birds (with corresponding numbered sections of text), and a plate showing the 'Use of the Day-net, and the Manner of catching small Birds of all Kinds'. Apparantly lacking the plate of the Virginia Nightingale in the Appendix, although number of plates called for in bibliographies varies (Anker calls for 21 plates (19 of birds)), and it is possible that copies were issued with various numbers of plates.

Anker, p. 92; Mullens & Swann p. 17; Nissen IVB 17.

Condition

12mo in 6s (186x115mm), recently rebound in brown half calf, gilt title to spine. Half-title with section cropped from top and restored, final two leaves frayed to margins and corners and neatly repaired. Paper browned; some light soiling. Manuscript ink notes to recto of one plate. Good ex-lib.: blind stamp to title page, ink stamp to verso.