extra-illustrated with watercolours

A finely bound, extra-illustrated example of Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary, acclaimed by Coues as 'one of the most notable treatises on British birds, as a vade mecum which has held its place at a thousand elbows for three-quarters of a century.'

Montagu, one of the most eminent ornithologists of his day, served in the army, including during the American War of Independence, before retiring to Kingsbridge to devote his life to the study of natural history. He formed extensive collections, that of his birds being preserved in the Natural History Museum, South Kensington.

'An exceedingly useful publication containing a great amount of information' (Ayer/Zimmer).

First edition. 2 volumes, 8vo, contents arranged alphabetically without pagination, the hand-coloured frontispiece listed by Mullens & Swann of the Cirl Bunting is in the body of the text, extra-illustrated with 2 hand-coloured engraved frontispieces by and after Gabler, 14 hand-coloured engraved plates of eggs published by Graves, 1815, and 135 original watercolours, a little spotting to text particularly at beginning and end of volumes, bound without the 2 errata slips mentioned by Mullens & Swann, near contemporary red straight-grained morocco gilt, all edges gilt.

Ayer/Zimmer, p. 441; Freeman, British Natural History Books, 2630; Mullens & Swann pp 409-410; Nissen, IVB, 642; Cf. Anker 344.