Beschreibung:

GOULD, John (1804-1881) and Richard Bowdler SHARPE (1847-1909). A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds. London: Taylor and Francis (vols.I-V) for the Author, [1849]-1861; (supplement) for Henry Sotheran & Co., [1880]-1887. 6 volumes (including the Supplement ), large 2° (546 x 368mm). 3pp. subscribers' list. 418 FINE HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, MANY HEIGHTENED WITH GOLD-LEAF overpainted with transparent varnish and oil colours, by Gould, Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart printed by Hullmandel & Walton, Walter and Mintern Brothers. (Some spotting to titles, some text and about 60 plates, list of plates in vol.IV, titles to vols.II and IV and endpapers to vols.I, V and VI with a vertical crease, 2 text leaves accompanying plates 79 and 118 detached or almost detached.) Near-contemporary blue half-morocco, spines gilt, g.e. (extremities scuffed). FIRST EDITION OF GOULD'S "MASTERPIECE... AN INCOMPARABLE CATALOGUE AND COMPENDIUM OF BEAUTIES" ( Fine Bird Books p.29). Most of the subjects came from Gould's own collection of humming-bird specimens, a number of which he exhibited at the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens during the Great Exhibition of 1851. The subjects gave Gould the chance to display the new technique of imitating the birds' iridescent plumage by the use of varnish and oils over gold leaf. Gould died in 1881 after the publication of part I of the Supplement . The work was completed by Sharpe (text), W.Hart (plates) and Osbert Salvin who directed the general production. Nissen IVB 380; Anker 177; Fine Bird Books p.78; Sauer 16 & 29; Wood p.365; Zimmer pp.258 & 263-264. (6)