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The first edition in English of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby; the most celebrated early English ornithology.
The first edition in English of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby; the most celebrated early English ornithology.
The first edition in English of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby; the most celebrated early English ornithology.
The first edition in English of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby; the most celebrated early English ornithology.
The first edition in English of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby; the most celebrated early English ornithology.
The first edition in English of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby; the most celebrated early English ornithology.

a fundamental work for systematic ornithology


Willughby, Francis; RAY, John (editor).

The Ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq; fellow of the Royal Society. In three books. Wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described. The descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plates. Translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work. To which are added, three considerable discourses, I. Of the art of fowling: with a description of several nets in two large copper plates. II. Of the ordering of singing birds. III. Of falconry. By John Ray, fellow of the Royal Society.

London, printed by A[ndrew]. C[larke]. for John Martyn, printer to the Royal Society, at the Bell in St. Pauls Church-Yard, 1678.

$4,750.00
$4,750.00

The Ornithology of Francis Willughby

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The most celebrated early English ornithology. 'It is difficult to underestimate what enormous labour this work entailed. Willughby and Ray's goal was to see, describe and dissect every known bird — assumed to be about 500 at that time (in fact, we now know that there are around 10,000 species of birds in the world). Their second aim was to use these descriptions to construct a biologically meaningful classification of birds. The efficacy of Willughby and Ray's classification of birds was obvious to Carl Linnaeus who, a century later used it more or less unchanged in his own System Naturae' (Tim Birkenhead, The Wonderful Mr. Willoughby).

First edition in English; folio (39 x 25 cm); 80 engraved plates comprising 78 plates of birds showing multiple subjects numbered 1-LXXVIII, and 2 un-numbered plates of netting, bookplate, some minor tears to a few pages; occasional light soiling, contemporary calf, neat restoration to edges and extremities, a very good copy; [12], 53, [3], 55-271, [3], 273-441, [7] pp.

Keynes, Ray 39; Nissen IVB 991, Norman II, 1792; Wing W 2880.

Stock code 104049

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The first edition in English of The Ornithology of Francis Willughby; the most celebrated early English ornithology.

The Ornithology of Francis Willughby

$4,750.00
$4,750.00

Ask a question

Natural History : Birds

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.
$3,421.00

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.
$4,789.00

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

YARRELL, William.
A History of British Birds. 1843.
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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.
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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].
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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

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