A History of British Birds Original contemporary publisher’s ½ leather backed cloth - 1851

Illustrated with 358 full-page engraved, hand-colored plates. 4to. Bound in original contemporary publisher's ½-leather-backed cloth, gilt decorations on spine, 5 raised bands, all edges marbled. London: Groombridge and Sons, 1851-1857. First Edition. First Issue. 6 volumes. Only the first edition sets were fully hand colored. In later editions the backgrounds were not colored.

Morris's A History of British Birds was first published in monthly parts from June 1850, over a period of 7 years. Each part contained 24 pages of letterpress and 4 hand-colored plates. It was a resounding success. The inspiration for the book came from the renowned English printer, Benjamin Fawcett, who approached Morris to write the text when Morris became Vicar of Nafferton. Alexander Francis Lydon, one of Fawcett's principal engravers, contributed much in technique and design.

Morris was a popular writer on natural history in general, and birds in particular. His first book, Guide to an Arrangement of British Birds, was published in1834. His association with Benjamin Fawcett was to have remarkable results, particularly for the study of ornithology.

Morris became an early advocate for conservation and was instrumental in founding the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Some wear to covers; spine of volume I professionally rebacked, almost unnoticeable; heads of spines on volume II, V and VI slightly chipped; heel of spine of volume IV chipped; some inner hinges split but boards still firmly attached; some minor foxing; first 3 plates of volume V with water marks, not affecting images; o/w plates are clean and bright.

A fine example of a rare, classic set.