The Ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton

Description:

First edition in English, an enlarged and revised version of Willughby's 1676 Latin edition. Three parts in one volume. Title-page printed in red and black. Illustrated with 80 engraved plates (2 un-numbered plates of trapping, the rest of birds). Some of the plates feature the names of the engravers W. Faithorne or W. Sherwin. Also, with 2 letterpress tables.

Francis Willughby (1635-1672) was a pioneering naturalist, often considered one of the founders of modern scientific ornithology. Published posthumously, this book was completed by Willughby's friend and collaborator, John Ray (1627-1705). Translated from the Latin by Ray, the present work includes additional plates and three sections by Ray on fowling, falconry, and song-birds.

Anker 532; Mullens & Swann, p. 652; Nissen IVB 991; Zimmer II, pp 676-7.

Condition

Folio (370x240mm), cont. calf boards, worn and scuffed, rebacked in recent leather (20th century) in antique style, raised bands, leather title pieces, early restoration to corners, marbled endpapers. Neat repairs to margins of the title-page, p. 78, and to about a quarter of the plates, not affecting the text/illustrations. Two plates with larger closed tears, neatly repaired. Final plate torn at foot, with very minor loss to one of the figures, and mounted onto the endpaper. A few small ink spots to fore-edge. Some light spotting to page edges, occasional light soiling; a few plates with an old faint stain to the margin, not affecting the images. Later ink notes with descriptions of the pippet lark and the ortolan, to the verso of the front endpaper.