Authors: GOULD, JOHN.

Title: The Birds of Australia.

Description: Facsimile Edition of 8 large Impl. folio volumes (54cm x 35cm); 681 coloured plates in total; bound in publisher's green cloth, titles lettered in gilt on spine, gilt stamped decoration on upper boards; Vol. 1. pp. ciii, 14, 36 plates of birds, introduction, table of ranges of species including New Zealand, New Guinea, preface, dedication page to Queen Victoria, list of subscribers, general index to first 7 volumes; Vol. 2. 104 birds; Vol. 3. 97 birds: Vol. 4. 104 birds; Vol. 5. 92 birds; Vol. 6. 82 birds; Vol. 7. 85 birds; Vol. 8. 81 birds is the supplementary volume with its own index, all are fine copies. Still with their original printed post boxes most likely never opened.

Comment: This facsimile of Gould's massive work that was originally published in parts between 1840 and 1848, the supplementary volume 8 was originally published in 1869 and covers birds discovered between 1848 and 1869. This work provides beautiful hand coloured lithograph plates of each then known bird in Australia and also some from New Zealand including the Owen's Apteryx. The text accompanying the plates gives a full description of the birds plumage and variations between sexes, during breeding seasons, distribution, and also tributes to by whom, when, where specimen collected and possibilities of further members of the species existing. Gould also sometimes notes nests and eggs as in the Wedge Tailed Eagle and interesting asides, such as the Tasmanian Aborigines being extinct. The Publishers, Hill House collaborated with the British Museum to produce this out-standing full-size facsimile, the editions of each volume were less than 500 in number. The complete facsimile set is now rare, an almost never offered in such fine condition.

Publisher: Melbourne; Hill House; 1989-1996.

Price: AUD4900

Book ID: 122209

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