A Natural History of Uncommon Birds,

a superb set

'one of the most important of all bird books, both as a fine bird book and a work of ornithology' (Fine Bird Books). A handsome set in contemporary straight-grain morocco, from the library of MP Richard Henry Alexander Bennett (1743-1814), with his bookplates.

'Though issued separately, they [Natural History and Gleanings] are considered as one and either must rank as imperfect without the other... At its date of issue, the Natural History and Gleanings was one of the most important of all bird Books, both as a Fine Bird Book and a work of Ornithology. It is still high on each list...' (Sitwell).

George Edwards (1694-1773), a talented natural history artist, became librarian at the College of Physicians through the good offices of Sir Hans Sloane, who also employed him to draw the curiosities in his private museum. This provided him with both a steady income and plenty of time (his tasks not being very onerous), to pursue his own interests whilst surrounded by volumes on natural history. Edwards had a large circle of friends with an interest in science and he drew and painted the natural history objects owned by them. He kept copies of these drawings, and it was as a result of his wishing to see these drawings preserved in some way that he resolved to publish A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. This proved a success, and thus encouraged, Edwards brought out the Gleanings, although this took many years to complete.

Amongst the species described, many are from India and North America. The Indian specimens were largely based on the watercolours made by Pieter Cornelis de Bevere, a member of the household of Governor Gideon Loten, a Dutchman who settled in England for a while, where his collection was studied by Edwards. The North American birds came from two main areas, Hudson Bay territory and Pennsylvania. In addition, there were a few birds from Carolina provided by Catesby.

First edition; 7 volumes, 4to (28.5 x 22.5 cm), 362 etched plates with contemporary hand-colouring, uncoloured portrait of a Samojeed in volume 2, 2 engraved frontispieces, portrait to Gleanings, additional portrait mounted before frontispiece to Uncommon Birds and medallions on title-pages coloured by a different – possibly later – hand to that of the main body of plates, text in English and French, near-contemporary bookplates, offsetting and some scattered spotting to text heaviest to title and last few leaves of volume I, plates generally clean; contemporary red straight-grain morocco, spines gilt in compartments, gilt roll with palmette and vine to boards, zig-zag and dot roll to turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, silk bookmarks, spines very slightly faded, some rubbing of the bindings but overall a very good set.

Anker 124-126; Ayer/Zimmer pp.192-194 and 196-199; Fine Bird Books p93; Lisney 188, 192-193, 197-198, 200-201, 203, 205, 208, and 211; Mullens and Swann pp. 195-196; Nissen IVB 286-289.