The Natural History of Pigeons. The Naturalist's Library, Ornithology Vol V Gallinaceous Birds, Part III by Prideaux John Selby, Andrew Crichton, Sir William Jardine - editor - 1835

EDINBURGH: W H LIZARS, 1835 A very good copy of the first edition in the original publisher's cloth binding with 30 hand coloured plates of pigeons from drawings by Edward Lear. Lear provided the illustrations for Pigeons and Parrots in the Naturalist's Library, and his work is distinctive for its accuracy combined with an ability to make the subject seem alive. The Pigeons volume is also unusual in the Naturalist's Library series because the backgrounds to the birds are partly coloured. Contents: volume listing; half title; black and white frontispiece portrait of Pliny; hand coloured vignette title page with ring pigeons; 2 further title pages; publisher's advert; contents listing; Memoir of Pliny by Andrew Crichton; and text with black and white illustrations and 30 hand coloured plates. Publisher's adverts at the rear. The binding is faded to spine and board edges, with the spine being slightly blotchy. The spine has some pulling to the ends and a small crease. There is light wear to the corners. The original green endpapers are present with a couple of small hole at the front endpaper joint. Old ownership signature at the fep. Plates and text are very clean with beautiful colouring to the plates. The paper to both the text and plates is lightly toned towards the edges. Tissue guards have some offsetting. The backing is visible in the gutter at p 96.