Lot 41: [BOLTON, James (d. 1799)]. Harmonia Ruralis; or, An essay towards a Natural History of British Song Birds . London: for W.T. Gilling, 1824.

[BOLTON, James (d. 1799)]. Harmonia Ruralis; or, An essay towards a Natural History of British Song Birds. London: for W.T. Gilling, 1824.

2 volumes, 4υo (238 x 184mm). Hand-colored frontispiece and 80 hand-colored etched plates by and after Bolton. (Occasional light spotting, light offsetting.) Modern half cloth binding, original labels.

Second edition. The plates were re-lettered for this edition, and are noted for being much more finely colored than those of the first edition. Bolton was a self-taught naturalist, living near Halifax, York, who drew and etched all his own illustrations. The text expands Bolton's original, and includes a table compiled by Daines Barrington awarding 17 different song birds marks out of 20 on a scale of merit for 'mellowness of tone', 'sprightly notes', 'plaintive notes', 'compass' and 'execution'. Ellis 309; Fine Bird Books p. 60; Graesse I, 478; Mullens and Swann p. 79; Nissen IVB 115; Zimmer p. 64. (2)

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY