Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Bird, A V (author and editor); C S Barlow (foreword); and others

The paintings of Norman Lighton for Roberts Birds of South Africa (number 12 of signed first edition limited to 300 copies) (1976)

Plates from original paintings by Norman C K Lighton

Published: South African Natural History Publication Company, Cape Town, 1976

Edition: First

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  • tipped-in frontispiece of new Lighton painting by for this first (best) edition (limited to 300 signed copies, of which this is number 12) and the subscribers' edition (limited to 350 copies) 
  • full-bound in heavy blue calf, gilt-lettered to upper panel and spine, 12 pp of text + 51 colour plates from Lighton's original large paintings for Roberts with the same number of caption pages
  • five of the original paintings were missing: plate 1 (ostrich) was replaced by the new frontispiece; plates 31 and 32 (larks and swallows) were "destroyed by enemy action during World War II", while plates 40 and 48 (cisticolas and sunbirds) "disappeared", one after being copied for cigarette cards 
  • the publisher's rationale was to show Lighton's original paintings in the best possible light; the 559 x 396 mm originals were reduced for Roberts to 159 x 113 mm (28%) and printed by "harsh" letterpress; and to 375 x 266 mm (67%) and printed by "softer" lithography 
  • the cover corners are lightly bumped; the frontispiece page is sunned from the tipped-in illustration; otherwise the book is complete, unmarked and undiscoloured and near very good
  • Binding Condition: Good +
  • Overall Condition: Good +
  • Size: 470 x 350; 3 kg
  • Sold By: Fontein Books
  • Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 051 773 0050/048 079 546 4032
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Eft (South Africa), SWIFT (rest of world), or $ checks for US or Australian buyers
  • Trade Associations: AA Approved


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