The Naturalist's Library: Ornithology: Hummingbirds

Complete set of the two Hummingbirds volumes from Sir William Jardine's ambitious Victorian series The Naturalist's Library

With all 68 steel engravings engraved by Scottish engraver William Lizars after illustrations by Jean-Gabriel Pretre

In the description to the very first plate, Jardine writes "This fine specimen has been figured in the beautiful work of Mr. Lesson, from which we have borrowed so largely for the illustrations of this present volume." Rene Primevere Lesson's seminal studies of hummingbirds had appeared from 1829-1832.

Hummingbirds, Vol. I, 1833, 35 handcoloured steel plates including frontis, plus engraved portrait of Carl Linnaeus

Hummingbirds, Vol. II, 1833, 31 handcoloured steel plates including frontis, plus engraved portrait of Thomas Pennant

Sir William Jardine (1800-1874) was a Scottish naturalist. He is best known for writing and editing the 40-volume series of natural history books, The Naturalist's Library from 1833 to 1866. "In addition to the description and depiction (mostly finely coloured plates) by various well-known contributors to almost the whole range of the subject, the series is supplemented by biographies of famous naturalists of all times and all countries. It is well described as a remarkable little library of early nineteenth zoology, as well as a brief account of the lives of the chief zoologists of all time." (Casey Wood)

Jean-Gabriel Prêtre (1768-1849) was a Swiss-French natural history painter who illustrated a large number of books for Cuvier, Louis Pierre Vieillot, René Primevère Lesson, Comte de Lacépède, Richard Achille, and many other French zoologists.

Half leather binding in red leather, gold titles and volume numbers on spine, marble boards rubbed, spines scuffed with loss, three boards separated from spine, book blocks solid. Both volumes complete with all steel engravings clean and bright with delicate handcolour. Slight age toning overall.

Very good set of this ornithological classic in need of rebinding.