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Natural History : Birds

Magnificent, hand-coloured bird books by figures such as John Gould and François Levaillant, as well as important works of ornithological science and classification, and early identification guides.

See: Animals & Fish, Butterflies & Insects, Flowers & Plants, Natural History

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  • First edition of this ornithological classic, Walter Lowry Buller's History of the Birds of New Zealand, with 36 chromolithographic plates, published in parts in London between 1872 and 1873.
    First edition of this ornithological classic, Walter Lowry Buller's History of the Birds of New Zealand, with 36 chromolithographic plates, published in parts in London between 1872 and 1873.

    BULLER, Walter Lawry.
    A History of the Birds of New Zealand. [1872-]1873.
    $3,420.00

  • Second and preferred edition of the definitive work on New Zealand birds, Walter Lowry Buller's History fo teh Birds of New Zealand, in the publisher's deluxe red morocco.
    Second and preferred edition of the definitive work on New Zealand birds, Walter Lowry Buller's History fo teh Birds of New Zealand, in the publisher's deluxe red morocco.

    BULLER, Walter Lawry.
    A History of the Birds of New Zealand. 1888.
    $4,788.00

  • A History of British Birds.
    A History of British Birds.

    YARRELL, William.
    A History of British Birds. 1843.
    $1,163.00

  • The edition deluxe of Birds of Arabia by Meinerthagen, one of ten specially bound copies with a unique bird of prey design to the front cover.
    The edition deluxe of Birds of Arabia by Meinerthagen, one of ten specially bound copies with a unique bird of prey design to the front cover.

    MEINERTZHAGEN, Colonel R.
    Birds of Arabia. 1980.
    $6,840.00

  • Containing 40 finely coloured plates, mostly hand signed by Hayes himself.
    Containing 40 finely coloured plates, mostly hand signed by Hayes himself.

    HAYES, William.
    Birds. [1773].
    $22,572.00

  • An attractively bound second printing of the standard reference for Australian parrots, Alan Lendon's Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary.
    An attractively bound second printing of the standard reference for Australian parrots, Alan Lendon's Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary.

    LENDON, Alan.
    Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary. 1976.
    $137.00

  • A lovely set of Edward Donovan's Natural History of British Birds, all first editions save for volume V, in attractive contemporary bindings.
    A lovely set of Edward Donovan's Natural History of British Birds, all first editions save for volume V, in attractive contemporary bindings.

    DONOVAN, Edward.
    The Natural History of British Birds; 1794-1820.
    $10,260.00

  • First edition of one of the most beautiful bird books ever published, Jean Baptiste Audebert's Oiseaux Dorés ou Reflets Metallaques, one of only 15 copies with captions printed in gold.
    First edition of one of the most beautiful bird books ever published, Jean Baptiste Audebert's Oiseaux Dorés ou Reflets Metallaques, one of only 15 copies with captions printed in gold.

    AUDEBERT, Jean Baptiste; VIELLOT, Louis Jean.
    Oiseaux Dorés ou a Reflets Métalliques. [1800-]1802.
    $52,667.00

  • An attractive, taxidermied tawny owl mounted in a glass case with a naturalistic setting of ferns.

    [TAXIDERMY].
    Tawny Owl.
    $890.00

  • A handsome taxidermied barn owl mounted in a tree branch in a diorama style case with glass on three sides.

    [TAXIDERMY].
    Barn owl.
    $1,026.00

  • First edition of Lionel Walter Rothschild's important book Extinct Birds, one of the limited edition of 300 numbered and signed copies.
    First edition of Lionel Walter Rothschild's important book Extinct Birds, one of the limited edition of 300 numbered and signed copies.

    ROTHSCHILD, Lionel Walter, Baron.
    Extinct Birds. 1907.
    $20,520.00

  • A signed limited edition copy of Tony Silva's Monograph of endangered parrots, with 42 plates after illustrations by Gracia Bennish.
    A signed limited edition copy of Tony Silva's Monograph of endangered parrots, with 42 plates after illustrations by Gracia Bennish.

    SILVA, Tony; BENNISH, Gracia (illustrator).
    A Monograph of Endangered Parrots. 1989.
    $684.00

  • The standard field guide to the birds of the southern India state of Travncore Cochin by the noted Indian ornithologist known as 'the birdman of India'.
    The standard field guide to the birds of the southern India state of Travncore Cochin by the noted Indian ornithologist known as 'the birdman of India'.

    ALI, salim.
    The birds of Travancore & Cochin. 1953.
    $342.00

  • A rare and extremly fine collection of 115 watercolours by the noted ornithological artist Charles Hayes, produced between 1808 and 1813.
    A rare and extremly fine collection of 115 watercolours by the noted ornithological artist Charles Hayes, produced between 1808 and 1813.

    HAYES, Charles.
    Ornithological Watercolours. 1808-1813.
    $102,597.00

  • A signed limited edition copy of Elizabeth Butterworth's Amazon Parrots, illustrated with 28 colourplates and an original watercolour, bound in publisher's crushed red morocco.
    A signed limited edition copy of Elizabeth Butterworth's Amazon Parrots, illustrated with 28 colourplates and an original watercolour, bound in publisher's crushed red morocco.

    BUTTERWORTH, Elizabeth (illustrator); LOW, Rosemary.
    Amazon Parrots. 1983.
    $6,840.00

  • The first edition of the classic illustrated ornithology book A History of British Birds by William Yarrell, published in 1843.
    The first edition of the classic illustrated ornithology book A History of British Birds by William Yarrell, published in 1843.

    YARRELL, William.
    A History of British Birds. 1843.
    $684.00

  • Fourth edition of Francis Orpen Morris's The History of British Birds, the classic standard text on British birds.
    Fourth edition of Francis Orpen Morris's The History of British Birds, the classic standard text on British birds.

    MORRIS, Francis Orpen.
    A History of British Birds 1895-1896
    $1,710.00

  • A fine set of 37 original watercolours by Frank Knight for Joseph Forshaw's Vanished and Vanishing Parrots.
    A fine set of 37 original watercolours by Frank Knight for Joseph Forshaw's Vanished and Vanishing Parrots.

    KNIGHT, Frank (illustrator).
    Vanished and Vanishing Parrots 2007-2011.
    $37,619.00

  • The enlarged second edition of North's comprehensive survey of the birds' nests and eggs of Australia and Tasmania, in the original printed wrappers.
    The enlarged second edition of North's comprehensive survey of the birds' nests and eggs of Australia and Tasmania, in the original printed wrappers.

    NORTH, Alfred J.
    Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania. 1901-1914.
    $3,420.00

  • Wytsman's Genera Avium was to describe all avian groups but his death brought an end to the project.
    Wytsman's Genera Avium was to describe all avian groups but his death brought an end to the project.

    WYTSMAN, Philogène Auguste Galilée.
    Genera Avium. 1905-14.
    $2,052.00

  • The edition princeps of Aldrovandi Ullise's Ornithologiae, a celebrated treatise on birds illustrated with woodcuts.
    The edition princeps of Aldrovandi Ullise's Ornithologiae, a celebrated treatise on birds illustrated with woodcuts.

    ALDROVANDI, Ulisse.
    Ornithologiae, 1599.
    $6,156.00

  • First editions of A Natural History of Birds by Eleazar Albin, the first British bird book illustrated with hand-coloured plates, published in 1731, 1734, & 1738.
    First editions of A Natural History of Birds by Eleazar Albin, the first British bird book illustrated with hand-coloured plates, published in 1731, 1734, & 1738.

    ALBIN, Eleazar.
    A Natural History of Birds. 1731, 1734 & 1738.
    $32,147.00

  • A finely bound copy of Colonel Meinertzhagen's 'Birds of Arabia', the definitive work on Arabian birds.
    A finely bound copy of Colonel Meinertzhagen's 'Birds of Arabia', the definitive work on Arabian birds.

    MEINERTZHAGEN, Colonel R.
    Birds of Arabia. 1954.
    $5,130.00

  • Mixed set of F.O. Morris's History of British Birds and History of Nests and Eggs, 1863-1864.
    Mixed set of F.O. Morris's History of British Birds and History of Nests and Eggs, 1863-1864.

    MORRIS, Francis Orpen.
    A History of British Birds [and] A Natural History of the Nests and Eggs of British Birds. 1863-1864.
    $2,394.00

  • The fourth and fifth editions respectively of Beverly R. Morris's History of British Birds and British Game Birds, 1895-1897, with hand-coloured plates.
    The fourth and fifth editions respectively of Beverly R. Morris's History of British Birds and British Game Birds, 1895-1897, with hand-coloured plates.

    MORRIS, Beverly R.
    A History of British Birds [with] British Game Birds and Wildfowl. 1895-1897.
    $924.00

  • First edition of one of the most significant of Australian bird books, The Birds of the District of Geelong by Charles E. Belcher.
    First edition of one of the most significant of Australian bird books, The Birds of the District of Geelong by Charles E. Belcher.

    BELCHER, Charles E.
    The Birds of the District of Geelong, Australia. [1914].
    $479.00

  • The Talking Parrot and Its Care by Armistead Carter, a rare pamphlet with two hand-coloured illustrations & interesting ads for bird and reptile supplies.
    The Talking Parrot and Its Care by Armistead Carter, a rare pamphlet with two hand-coloured illustrations & interesting ads for bird and reptile supplies.

    CARTER, Armistead.
    The Talking Parrot and its Care. 1937.
    $69.00

  • First edition of Australian Parrots by Neville Cayley, the author of Australia's most popular field guide What Bird is That.
    First edition of Australian Parrots by Neville Cayley, the author of Australia's most popular field guide What Bird is That.

    CAYLEY, Neville W.
    Australian Parrots. 1938.
    $137.00

  • Scarce first edition of What Bird is That by Neville Cayley, the first comprehensive illustrated field guide to Australian birds.
    Scarce first edition of What Bird is That by Neville Cayley, the first comprehensive illustrated field guide to Australian birds.

    CAYLEY, Neville W.
    What Bird is That? A Guide to the Birds of Australia. 1931.
    $684.00

  • An exceptional imperial octavo set, one of only 24 copies of the <em>Land Birds</em> thus, finely bound in crushed morocco, all first editions save for quadrupeds.
    An exceptional imperial octavo set, one of only 24 copies of the <em>Land Birds</em> thus, finely bound in crushed morocco, all first editions save for quadrupeds.

    BEWICK, Thomas & John.
    History of British Birds [with] A Supplement to the History of British Birds, A General History of Quadrupeds [and] The Fables of Aesop. 1797, 1804 & 1821; 1800; 1818.
    $6,840.00

  • First edition of Records of Parrots Bred in Captivity by Arthur Prestwich, a scarce, comprehensive record of parrot breeding, inscribed by the author.
    First edition of Records of Parrots Bred in Captivity by Arthur Prestwich, a scarce, comprehensive record of parrot breeding, inscribed by the author.

    PRESTWICH, Arthur A.
    Records of Parrots Bred in Captivity [together with] Additions. 1950-1952 & 1954.
    $342.00

  • A handsomely bound imperial octavo set, all first editions, copiously illustrated.
    A handsomely bound imperial octavo set, all first editions, copiously illustrated.

    YARRELL, William & BELL, Thomas.
    A History of British Birds [with] A History of British Fishes with Supplement [and] A History of British Quadrupeds [and] A History of British Reptiles. 1843, 1836, 1837, & 1839.
    $5,130.00

  • Concerning Parrots. Bird Exhibits at the Peabody Museum.
    Concerning Parrots. Bird Exhibits at the Peabody Museum.

    Emilio, S.G.
    Concerning Parrots. Bird Exhibits at the Peabody Museum. 1929.
    $69.00

  • The Illustated Book of Canaries and Cage Birds, a beautifully illustrated introductory guide with 56 chromolithographed plates
    The Illustated Book of Canaries and Cage Birds, a beautifully illustrated introductory guide with 56 chromolithographed plates

    BLAKSTON, W.A.; SWAYSLAND, W.; WIENER, August F.
    The Illustrated Book of Canaries and Cage Birds, British and Foreign. [1877-1880].
    $616.00

  • The scarce second edition of David Seth-Smith's monograph on Parakeetss, illustrated with 20 colur plates.
    The scarce second edition of David Seth-Smith's monograph on Parakeetss, illustrated with 20 colur plates.

    SETH-SMITH, David.
    Parrakeets. 1926.
    $1,710.00

  • The first edition of Davd Seth-Smith monograph on Parakeets illustrated with 20 colour plates, 19 of which are hand-coloured.
    The first edition of Davd Seth-Smith monograph on Parakeets illustrated with 20 colour plates, 19 of which are hand-coloured.

    SETH-SMITH, David.
    Parrakeets. 1902-1903.
    $1,163.00

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