A natural history of birds ... published by the author ... and careful

ALBIN (Eleazar) & & ALBIN (Elizabeth).

A natural history of birds ... published by the author ... and carefully colour'd by his daughter and himself from the originals, drawn from the live birds.

THE FIRST BOOK OF ORNITHOLOGY WITH COLOURED PLATES

First issue. 3 vols. 306 fine hand-coloured plates, slight browning throughout. 4to. Rather worn contemporary calf (by Brindley?), first two vols. speckled, gilt floral border, very similar but not the same, third vol. mottled, gilt border of crowned dolphins, and this vol. a trifle larger, all three vols. smartly rebacked in the same style, and with the late eighteenth-century signature “William Hancocks” on titles and the Constitutional Club bookplate. [viii], 96, [4]; [viii], 92, [4]; [viii], 96pp. London, for the author, and sold by Innys and Brindley,

1731-34-38, 1731.

£25,000.00

ALBIN (Eleazar) & & ALBIN (Elizabeth).

A natural history of birds ... published by the author ... and carefully colour'd by his daughter and himself from the originals, drawn from the live birds.

Albin’s work was the first ornithological publication issued with coloured plates, an unprecedented attempt to accurately describe the avifauna both of the British Isles and further afield. The subscribers list is short, and it is thought that less than one hundred copies of the first issue were produced.

Albin’s many children seem to have been enrolled in his ambitious project as colourists, while he credits his eldest daughter Elizabeth it seems her siblings also lent a hand. In the production of the third volume, which contains descriptions of birds from overseas, specimens were sought from the coffee houses and inns, and indeed anywhere else harbouring prized exotica which could be accurately depicted.

Sitwell, Fine Bird Books p.71; Nissen IVB, 14.

Stock No.

255233

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