British Oology; Being Illustrations of the Eggs of British Birds, with Figures of Each Species, as far as practicable

This item has an excellent provenance with two well known book plates: The Lionel Phillips book plate is on the front paste down and the distinctive red leather "Punch" Barlow book plate is on the front free end paper. There are two Thorold's Africana book seller labels.

This lot has the first issue of volumes one and two bound in one volume. Later leather and light green book cloth binding with attractive gilt tooling and titles on the spine. The binder's signature is a tiny purple stamp at the top of the ffep. Marbled paper end papers. Top edge gilt.

The first edition was published in three volumes between 1831 and 1838 with a supplement containing 14 more plates published in 1842. This item comprises of the first editions of volumes one and two bound together.

There were two further new editions, with the title "Coloured Illustrations of the Eggs of British Birds", published in 1842-46 and in 1853-56 with 149 plates.

A note to the next owner: Please bear in mind that at first glance the numbering of the plates may cause initial shock, the first plate is numbered xxvi, the second is lxv, the third is cxlvi, etc. None of this will make sense until you study the "Systematic Index", which follows after page 15 of the text. There are a total of 155 coloured plates plates in all. The Systematic Index for volume two is bound in to follow the Index for volume one. Volume one has 72 plates and volume two has 83 plates. The total of 155 plates are all present and in the sequence as called for.

CONDITION DETAILS: The binding is attractive with a few signs of age and use. There is some foxing/spotting/toning throughout but for the most part a clean and above average copy.