A History of British Birds; Supplement to the History of British Birds

London: John Van Voorst, 1843-1845 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 10.5" by 7". Alexander Fussell; John Thompson. The three volume first edition of William Yarrell's study of the history of British birds, with the first of two supplement volumes also present. The three volume first edition of in book form of this work, which had initially been serialised over the course of the previous six years. Also present is the 1845 first supplementary volume.Illustrated with numerous vignette wood engravings throughout the four volumes present here, the majority of which were drawn by Alexander Fussell, and engraved by John Thompson.The work of English zoologist, prolific writer, bookseller and naturalist William Yarrell.Yarrell's work features a field guide systematically describing every species of bird known to have occurred in Britain throughout history. Due to the depth of research, Yarrell's series quickly overtook Thomas Bewick's work of the same name to become the standard reference work for a generation of British ornithologists.With four pages of advertisements to the rear of the supplement volume.With the stamp of Clayton S. Allen to the front free endpaper of the first three volumes. In the publisher's original cloth bindings. Bumping to back strip heads and tails, with loss of cloth to tail of volume II and supplement back strips, and further minor loss to head of supplement back strip. Tail of front joint of volume II starting, with board holding firm. Rear hinge of volume III and front hinge of supplement strained, but firmly held. Stamp to front free endpaper of first three volumes. Internally, volumes I-III firmly bound. Supplement binding significantly strained to centre. Offsetting to title page of supplement volume, with pages otherwise exceptionally clean and bright. Very Good