Lot 90: The definitive work on British birds and their eggs, nicely bound

MEYER, HENRY LEONARD

Coloured Illustrations of British Birds and their Eggs. London: Willis and Sotheran; Simpkin, Marshall, & Co; G. W. Nickisson, 1844-57. A mixed but early edition, in this set Volume VI is undated (see full imprint list below). Contemporary full green pebbled morocco, the covers and spines tooled and lettered in gilt, with raised bands, all edges gilt. 8 1/2 x 5 inches (21.5 x 13 cm); complete per plate lists but plate counts do vary in this work, with a penciled note at the end of Volume I "collated perfect/Quaritch," (see full plate count below). The spines slightly faded and rubbed along joints and corners, intermittent but frequent faint spotting, a nicely bound and attractive set.

Vol. I: Willis and Sotheran, 1857. 45 hand-colored lithographed plates by the author, 14 hand-colored lithographed plates by C. J. A. Meyer, and 5 uncolored lithographed plates; iv + 230 pp.

Vol. II: G. W. Nickisson, 1844. 45 hand-colored lithographed plates by the author and 13 hand-colored lithographed plates by C. J. A. Meyer; iv + 233 pp.

Vol. III: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1846. 45 hand-colored lithographed plates by the author and 15 hand-colored lithographed plates by C. J. A. Meyer; iv + 240 pp.

Vol. IV: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1846. 45 hand-colored lithographed plates by the author and 15 hand-colored lithographed plates by C. J. A. Meyer; iv + 215 pp.

Vol. V: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1848. 45 hand-colored lithographed plates by the author and 15 hand-colored lithographed plates by C. J. A. Meyer; iv + 192 pp.

Vol. VI: Willis and Sotheran, [n.d. 1857?]. 45 hand-colored lithographed plates by the author, 15 hand-colored lithographed plates by C. J. A. Meyer, and one uncolored lithographed plate; iv + 185 pp.

Vol. VII: Willis and Sotheran, 1857. 52 hand-colored lithographed plates by the author, 18 hand-colored lithographed plates by C. J. A. Meyer, and one uncolored lithographed plate; vi + 206 pp.

Nissen ZBI 628; Sitwell Fine Bird Books p. 123; Wood p. 462.