Beschreibung:

EDWARDS, GEORGE. A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, 1743-51, 4 vols. ; Gleanings of Natural History, 1758-64, 3 vols. Both London: Printed for the Author. Together 7 vols., 4to, 296 x 235mm. (11 5/8 x 9¼in.), contemporary blind-panelled reversed calf, red and black morocco spine labels, extremities of spines badly worn, upper joint of vol. 1 cracked, spine of vol. 5 broken, other joints partly cracked, corners worn, front blank leaf detached in vol. 1, some slight offsetting from plates to text, occasional show-through of pigment from blank versos. FIRST EDITIONS, Natural History : English text throughout, handcolored engraved frontispiece, printed general title with engraved medal vignette and 210 handcolored engraved plates, one uncolored plate of a Samojeed. Gleanings : English and French printed titles and text, engraved portrait of Edwards by J.S. Miller after B. Dandridge facing the printed general title with engraved medal vignette, 152 handcolored engraved plates. The full complement of plates numbered 1 to 362 consecutively, with 42 plates in vol. 7 carefully numbered in red ink, lists of subscribers in vols. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7. Anker 124 and 126; Ayer/Zimmer, pp. 192-194 and 198-199; Fine Bird Books , p. 73; McGill/Wood, p. 329; Nissen IVB 286 and 288. Provenance : Philip, sixth viscount Wenman, bookplates -- The Estate of T.A. Noone (sale, Christie's New York, 17 November 1978, lot 132, $12,000 Quaritch). (7)