The Natural History of Humming Birds. Volumes I & II [in one volume]. The Naturalist's Library. Ornithology. Volumes I & II

Sir William Jardine

Published by W H LIZARS, EDINBURGH, 1835

About this Item

A very good copy of the 1st single volume edition of Humming Birds containing both the original volumes with 64 hand coloured plates. Humming Birds was the first title issued in the Naturalist's Library in 1833 and by 1835 the series was well established with many subscribers and much interest. Each volume in the series was issued to subscribers in 3 parts which was a problem if a customer wanted to purchase a single book. So Lizars started to publish individual volumes in a range of bindings. An advert at the beginning of this volume states that the edition was issued as 'a present - suitable ornament to the Boudoir or Drawing-room table'. The marketing clearly worked - this copy has a lovely inscription on the initial blank: 'A whole flock of sixty-five birds to the little Humming Bird Louisa' dated January 1836. Bound in new quarter calf with marbled boards with gilt compartments and title label to spine. Contents: half title; frontispiece black and white portrait of Linnaeus with new tissue guard; hand coloured vignette title page; title dated 1835; advert; contents listing; advert for series; Memoir of Linnaeus; and text 159pp with black and white illustrations and 34 hand coloured plates; half title; black and white frontispiece portrait of Pennant with new tissue guard; hand coloured vignette title page; title to Vol II; contents listing; advert; Memoir of Pennant; text with 30 hand coloured plates; synopsis; and index 168 pp; publisher's catalogue at the rear 6pp. The original humming bird plates simply showed the bird without background but these have a black and white background of foliage to match the style used in later volumes in the series. The binding is in fine clean condition. Internally the paper to both text and plates has toning which is more prevalent in Vol I than Vol II. There is offsetting from plates to guards and occasional spotting or marking - most often on text pages but sometimes on plates. In Vol I, plate 14 has small loss at the top edge of the gutter; plate 26 has a brown mark in the bottom corner margin; and there is a tiny tear in the top gutter edge of p149 and the tissue guard to plate 30. Vol II has 2 brown marks on plate 7 and one on plate 17. There are 2 letters with the book. in 1982 a later owner wrote to Crawford H Greenewalt (President and later Chairman of the Du Pont Company) who had just published a book on Humming Birds, offering to lend him the volume. Greenewalt replied promptly and courteously declining the offer as he had been given several copies by friends. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images.

Seller Inventory # 033370

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Natural History of Humming Birds. Volumes I & II [in one volume]. The Naturalist's Library. Ornithology. Volumes I & II
• Publisher: W H LIZARS, EDINBURGH
• Publication Date: 1835
• Language: English
• Binding: Quarter Leather
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • birds