Sharpe's beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers

SHARPE, RICHARD BOWDLER

A Monograph of the Alcedinidae or Family of Kingfishers. London: Published by the Author, [printed by Taylor and Francis], 1868-71. First edition. Finely bound in modern fine three-quarters red morocco over red cloth, the spine tooled and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt. 11 1/2 x 8 inches (29 x 20 cm); 120 hand-colored lithographic plates by and after J. G. Keulemans, hand-colored "Map of the Family Alcedinidae," and one uncolored plate of "Generic characters," retains the list of subscribers, index at end. A very fine copy, slightly toned, very slight lean; Together with MURIE, JAMES. One the Anatomy of the Kingfishers. London: circa 1870. First edition, with a pencilled inscription from the author, this the H. Bradley Martin copy with his booklabel to chemise. This is an unfinished chapter of a work intended for inclusion in the final double part of the work but apparently only appeared later. Caption titled, with 6 plates. Housed in a cloth case. The first leaf detached and chipped, other spotting and minor wear.

A ''thorough monograph of the ...[Kingfisher family] ... containing all the available information respecting the birds in question and illustrated by fine hand-colored plates'' (Zimmer). The work appeared in fifteen parts from July 1, 1868 to January 1, 1871 and was reportedly limited to 200 copies. This copy is accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie which was not initially included in the publication and appeared later. This is the only copy of Murie's work that we trace, it being quite scarce. Zimmer p. 575; Anker 464; Nissen IVB 864; Wood p. 564.
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