The Waterfowl of the World

London: Country Life Ltd., 1959-64. First edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Good. 10" by 7.5". Peter Scott . A four volume set of Jean Delacour's illustrated works on waterfowls in their original dust wrappers, with two volumes being first editions. Four volume set. Complete in four. The first edition for volumes 'Three and Four'.  In the original publishers blue cloth with gilt birds to the front and with the original unclipped dust wrappers. Illustrated by Peter Scott with frontispieces, maps, full page monochrome illustrations, vignettes and 19 full colour plates to 'volume three', five to 'volume four', twenty three to 'volume two' and fifteen to 'volume one'. Collated complete.  This work was written by Jean Delacour, one of the most widely travelled and foremost ornithologists from this time period. This four volume set provides a comprehensive work on waterfowl, covering many species and topics. The works are beautifully illustrated by Peter Scott, and artist with a specialist in painting birds with training in ornithology. In the publisher's original cloth with the original unclipped dust wrappers. Externally excellent with slight fading to the spines, heaviest to 'Volume Four' and very minimal bumping to the extremities of the boards to 'Volume Three'. The wraps are generally smart with fading to the spine to 'Volume One', the odd closed tear to the extremities and the odd chip to all but 'Volume Two', marks, slight shelf wear and the odd minor spot to the rear to 'Volume One'. Slight spotting to the verso to all but 'Volume Two'. Internally firmly bound with clean and bright pages with the odd minor spot only to 'Volume One'. The odd spot to the fore edge to volumes 'One and Four'. Near Fine