The Birds of California.

San Diego: South Moulton Company, 1923. First edition. Format De Luxe edition (so labeled in all four volumes). One of 539 sets, signed by the author (though not numbered and limitation leaf is blank but for the printed line bearing Dawson's signature). Collates correctly. Four large quarto volumes (12 1/4 x 9 3/8 inches; 311 x 240 mm.). Contemporary blue cloth with beveled edges and rounded corners, spines with gilt rules and lettering. Bibliographic offprint laid in. Some minor joint rubbing but a solid and clean set.This copy inscribed by the patron of this publication, Miss Ellen Browning Scripps: "Presented to Mr. Mi*** John Fillete (?) with appreciation of his life and work by E.B. Scripps, Christmas, 1929". Perhaps the recipient of this set had them bound in this functional manner (which, while plain, has stood the test of time and the weight of the text blocks).“Some time after the book had been on the market, and while the subscription campaign was in full swing, Dawson informed the writer that a total of $250,000 had been expended, which may have included the heavy expense he had been put to in extensive field trips for life history material and photographs. Over half of this amount came from Miss Scripps, and it is certain that her only thought in connection with her part was that it be a cultural and artistic gift to posterity, as others of a like nature had been. ... It may be said in conclusion that the book obviously occupies an utterly unique place in modern American ornithologica, and that no contemporary will deny Dawson the full credit due him for an amazing achievement” (W. Lee Chambers, “Bibliographical Notes on Dawson’s Birds of California”, The Condor: A Magazine of Western Ornithology vol. 41 no. 6 (Berkeley: 1939); p. 243). The offprint of this is laid into the book.“Although Dawson had successfully produced other ornithological works, this was by far the most ambitious project he had undertaken and he quickly ran into financial problems which were not resolved until he found a patron in Mrs. Ellen Browning Scripps who was willing to underwrite the entire cost. With almost unlimited funds now available, the author spared no expense in making this an ornothological [sic] and typographical tour-de-force. The different editions were all printed from the same hand-set type and plates. The differences were in the size and number of volumes, the number of plates, the quality of paper and the quality of bindings. This edition was printed on quality paper and had the maximum number of plates” (The Library of Dr. Roger K. Larson, Pacific Book Auction Galleries, February 12, 1996, lot 40). Ayer/Zimmer, p. 162. Nissen, IVB, 225.