The Natural History of Humming Birds - Volumes I and II - The Naturalist's Library

1833. First Edition. Hard Cover. (Edinburgh: W H Lizars 1833). First UK Edition, First Issue (with the "Notice of the Naturalist's Library" by Professor Rennie from the Field Naturalist's Magazine London, March 1833". Rebound in the 20th Century in green buckram with gilt lettering to the spine with pale yellow end-papers. Contents: half-title page; notice of the Naturalist's Library by Professor Rennie; adverts for North American Ornithology (pages 1 through 6); frontispiece black and white portrait of Linnaeus; hand coloured vignette title page; one further title page; contents listing (pages i through iii); advertisement ; Memoir of Linnaeus; and text with black and white illustrations and 34 hand coloured plates - 147 pages in all. Vol. II: half title; black and white frontispiece portrait of Pennant; hand coloured vignette title page; 2 further title pages (one for insertion into Vol I); contents listing; advertisement; Memoir of Pennant (damage to page 36-37 caused by something laid into this copy); text with 30 hand coloured plates (without tissue guards) ; synopsis of the Trochilidae; and index; 166 pages in total. There is a neat former owner's name in biro to the yellow front free end-paper of each volume. There is a separate gift inscription (to Clara Stavenhagen) the half-title of Vol I who has written her name and a date (1833) on the title page below which she has written in a different ink: C A Jones (possibly her married name); on the following page she has written "Given to C A Jones". The plates in both volumes are particularly bright, clean and attractive. Overall solid VG copies of both books which are uncommon, in our experience. Photographs/scans available upon request. For the pair: