Beautiful Birds by John COTTON
COTTON, John; Tyas, Robert (Ed.). Beautiful Birds: Their Natural History; including an Account of their Structure, Habits, Nidification, Etc. Etc. (Vol. I-III). London: Houlston and Stoneman, 1854-1856.
Edited from the Manuscript of the Late John Cotton, Esq., F.Z.S. John Cotton (1801-1849) was a British poet, ornithological writer and artist, who emigrated to Victoria, Australia in 1843.
First edition. A very scarce and beautiful set. This ornithological work was published in 36 monthly parts between 1854 and 1856, each part comprising of 16 pp and one finely hand-coloured plate. The parts at first were paged separately, but in the latter half of the work consecutively. This set is complete in 3 volumes, each volume with its title page, Contents, List of Plates and 12 hand-coloured plates (illustrated by James Andrews). Chiefly comprises British (with a few foreign) birds. (Mullens & Swann p. 149; Nissen IVB 207).
3 volumes: xx, (188); x, [1], 192; viii, [1], 198 pp; 36 hand-coloured lithographic plates, wood engravings to text. Small 8vo (170x105mm), contemporary full leather, richly gilt, attractive gilt floral border with central bird motif to all boards, spines with gilt titles and elaborate gilt decoration, gilt inner dentelles and gilt tooling to edges of boards, all edges gilt. Minor rubbing / light scuffing to extremities. One or two plates very slightly cropped. All plates with tissue guards. A finely bound, well-preserved and attractive set.