Beschreibung:

ELLIOT, Daniel Giraud (1835-1915). A Monograph of the Bucerotidae, or Family of Hornbills. [London?]: Taylor and Francis, published for the subscribers by the author, [1876?]-1882.
ELLIOT, Daniel Giraud (1835-1915). A Monograph of the Bucerotidae, or Family of Hornbills. [London?]: Taylor and Francis, published for the subscribers by the author, [1876?]-1882. Imperial 2° (555 x 372mm). 'To the binder' leaf at the back. 57 FINE HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES BY AND AFTER K.G. KEULEMANS, 3 uncoloured lithographic plates of generic characters by and after J. Smit, illustrations, the title to an imperial 4° issue is loosely inserted. (The 4° issue title with 120mm tear but without loss, the 31st plate, 'Sclater's Hornbill', on smaller 4°-format paper mounted to size, most leaves, including the plates, with some marginal spotting.) Contemporary dark green half morocco gilt, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers (extremities lightly rubbed, corners slightly bumped). VERY RARE LARGE-PAPER FOLIO ISSUE OF THE FIRST EDITION of this 'comprehensive treatment of the entire family of hornbills' (Zimmer). A pencilled note at the front gives a limitation of 20 copies, but we have been unable to confirm this: the copy in the library of the British Museum (Natural History) is described as a large-paper copy; Zimmer mentions an imperial 2° issue in the Gallatin catalogue; Nissen reproduces this information; but in general, confusion over the correct format of the normal large-4° issue makes identification of other copies difficult. Textually the larger issue appears to be identical with the smaller, except for the deletion of 'London,' from the imprint on the title. The work was Elliot's fifth illustrated monograph on single families of birds, and his last major ornithological work. BM(NH) II, p.522; Zimmer p.207; Fine Bird Books 1990 p.95; Nissen IVB 297.