A History of British Birds.

£500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

First edition in book form of this classic of ornithological illustration, originally published in sheets between 1837 and 1843. Yarrell (1784 – 1856) was a noted English zoologist and one of the original members of the Zoological Society. Yarrell took over his father's bookshop and newsagent but spent his spare time becoming a proficient shooter, angler and collector of specimens. He joined the Royal Institution in 1817, and having published his first zoological work, On the Occurrence of some Rare British Birds, was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1825. First edition; 3 vols, 8vo; 520 wood-engravings within the text, extra engraved portrait of Yarrell loosely inserted, contents partially unopened and faintly toned but otherwise clean; original blue cloth, titles to spines gilt, black coated endpapers, edges untrimmed, cloth lightly rubbed, a very good set; 528, 672, 528pp. Freeman, British Natural History Books 4177.

• Binding: Hardcover

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