Lot 35: SUSEMIHL, JOHANN CONRAD.

SUSEMIHL, JOHANN CONRAD. TEUTSCHE ORNITHOLOGIE ODER NATURGESCHICHTE ALLER VÖGEL TEUTSCHLANDS. DARMSTADT: LUDWIG CARL WITTICH AND OTHERS, 1800-1811 First edition , 21 parts (only, of 22, see note) bound in 2 volumes, folio (448 x 300mm.), bound from the original parts, with 21 blue printed upper wrappers, 126 hand-coloured engraved plates, contemporary half calf, red edges, [Anker 52 (18 parts only); Nissen IVB 907; Zimmer, p.81 (125 plates only)], without title as often, some marginal dampstaining at beginning of second volume, one plate with image just touched by the binder's knife, third from last plate with marginal tear not affecting image, spines rubbed

This attractive work is most commonly found lacking the last part, which did not appear until 1817, by which time copies had already been bound, as here. The work was an attempt to create "a German parallel to the sumptuous ornithological works of other countries, notably of France, e.g. Levaillant's works, to which it was compared at the time" (Anker). The text was written by a large and changing number of editors, including M.B. Borkhauser (under whose name the book is sometimes catalogued), J.W. Lichthammer, C.W. Bekker, and others.