A History of the Birds of Ceylon.

£6,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

First Edition of Legge's important monograph on the 371 birds of Ceylon. Colonel Legge was born in Tasmania, was educated in England and served with the Royal Artillery in Ceylon. He was one of the founders and first President of the Australasian (later Royal) Ornithologists' Union. First edition; 4to, 33 hand-coloured lithographed plates by J.G. Keulemans, printed by Hanhart, coloured map of Ceylon, diagrammatic plate of avian physiognomy, chromolithograph plate of eggs, early blue morocco gilt, edges speckled, pp 1009-1020 with a little insect damage to blank lower margin, pp. 481 -488 with short tear in gutter, p. 480 with short tear just touching text, a good copy. Anker 284; Fine Bird Books 89; Nissen IVB, 539; Nissen SVB, 294; Whittell 421-23; Wood 430; Zimmer 382-83; Trinity College 145; Yale Library 167.

• Binding: Hardcover

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