History of British Birds [with] A Supplement to the History of British Birds, A General History of Quadrupeds [and] The Fables of Aesop.

£5,000 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

magnificent imperial octavos An exceptional imperial octavo set, one of only 24 copies of the Land Birds thus, finely bound in crushed morocco. All first editions save for Quadrupeds, which is the fourth and best edition, the first to appear in imperial octavo and with thirteen new wood engravings, textual revisions, and the addition of scientific names. This is variant B of the Land Birds, with the vignette of a jug on page 22 in the horizontal configuration, and the 'indelicate' vignette on page 285 is in the uncensored state. In this copy of the Water Birds all three vignettes noted by Roscoe (pages 136, 269, and 359) match his variant A. The Aesop contains Bewick's facsimile receipt with his thumb mark, the short form variant. Loosely inserted into this set is a charming typed letter from the Liverpool firm of Henry Young Sons, Booksellers Bookbinders, dated June 7th, 1905. It describes this as 'an exceedingly fine copy of the first issue with both the rare supplements... together with the "History of Quadrupeds" and "Fables of Aesop". They make in all 4 volumes, and this is the finest set we have ever seen. The "Quadrupeds", though 4th edition, is really the best edition, as it contains more matter than the earlier issue; and the engravings are very much more carefully printed and consequently finer impressions... This truly magnificent set possesses every essential point necessary to the collector, or to anyone desirous of possessing fine books in the best state obtaina

• Binding: Hardcover

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