John Latham - A General History of Birds [193 planches coloriées] - 1821-1824

Complete copy (in 10 volumes) and first edition of the monumental "General History of Birds" by the English ornithologist John Latham (1740 - 1837) , illustrated, in the first edition, with 193 plates engraved and magnificently enhanced in color by hand. hand at the time (numbered from 1 to 184 and 9 are bissed) .

Attached: the author's notice for payment for the book.

This is the expanded version of Latham's first work on birds entitled "A General Synopsis of Birds", published in three volumes (1781–1801) and decorated with 106 plates.

John Latham was able to examine specimens of Australian birds that reached England during the last twenty years of the 18th century and was responsible for giving English names to many of them. He named some of Australia's most famous birds, including the emu, sulphur-crested cockatoo, wedge-tailed eagle, superb lyrebird, Australian magpie, magpie lark and coucal pheasant. He was also the first to describe the hyacinth macaw. Latham has been called the "grandfather" of Australian ornithology.

Copy as published at the time, publisher's cardboard with title label on the back. - Solid volumes, accidents: missing fragments on the caps, friction. Well preserved boards, some foxing (light) on some, more frequent on the serpentines (not serious) . Beautiful copy.

From the Selina Mill Library, with handwritten bookplate on the back cover.

John Latham
A General History of Birds
Winchester, Printed by Jacob and Johnson, for the Author, 1821-1824
in-4 (29 x 23 cm) ; 300/400 pages per volume.

Subject: Superb Ornithology John Latham 193 plates enhanced in colors General History of Birds EO 1821 24