The Natural History of British Birds;

All first editions save for volume V, which is the 1820 second edition. A lovely, unsophisticated set in handsome contemporary bindings, the contents fresh.

Born in Cork, Ireland, Edward Donovan (1768-1837) was an avid collector of natural history specimens purchased mainly at the auctions of specimens from voyages of exploration. He was a Fellow of the Linnean Society and the Wernerian Natural History Society, which gave him access to the best collections and libraries in London. It was quite common for private collectors to open small public museums, and in 1807 he founded the London Museum and Institute of Natural History. This exhibited several hundred cases of foreign birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, molluscs, insects, corals, botanical specimens, and other exotica alongside his British collections.

First editions save for volume V; 10 volumes, 8vo (22.5 x 13 cm); 244 hand-coloured engraved plates after and by the author, a little light offsetting and occasional spotting, overall contents clean; early 19th century red half morocco, marbled sides, edges, and endpapers, spines gilt in compartments, spines tanned, bindings a bit rubbed and scuffed with some wear at the corners and edges, a very good set.

Ayer/Zimmer 175c; Fine Bird Books 72*; McGill/Wood 322; Nissen IVB 257; Nissen SVB 133.