The Birds of Africa, Comprising All the Species Which Occur in the Ethiopian Region (Five Volumes in Seven)

London: R. H. Porter / Henry Sotheran & Co.. First Edition . Half Leather - Hardbound. Very Good/No Jacket. 4to. Henrik Gronvold. Five volumes in seven, published between 1896 and 1912. Later half red Moroccan leather, with red cloth over boards. Raised spine band and gilt stamped letters. Association Set having previously belonged to Robin Kemp (London, 1871-??) who in 1904 worked with Shelley incorporating his help to classify birds he had gathered in Sierra Leone between 1902 and 1904. Having been sent to Sierra Leone as an accountant with a railway firm, Kemp filled his spare time collecting bird specimens, and soon identified himself as a "Professional Specimen Collector." In addition to two trips to New Zealand, and a later trip to Argentine, Kemp was commissioned by C. D. Rudd to collect in East Africa from 1908-1911. The genus Kempiella is named for him, and Kemp is associated with the discovery of many mammals, birds, and Mollusca. (Whittell, H. M. "The Literature of Australian Birds,"). This set is heavily annotated by Kemp, with Vol. I being interleaved with sheets of notes in the meticulous and detailed hand of Kemp. There is also a good deal of penciled marginalia, mostly in the first two volumes. Kemp has neatly made checks and underlined names and titles in both red and black pencil. Although this also is mostly seen in Vol. I and II, there are scattered markings through all of the volumes except V, Pt. II. " Volume I comprises a check-list of species. The remainder of the work takes up the various groups systematically, giving descriptions and biographical notes but citing, as synonymy, only references to the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum and publications not mentioned therein, with further citation of the best published illustration; the original description is omitted unless it falls into the category mentioned and even the authorities for the nomenclature are not necessarily included. Many new genera and species are described. The Illustrations are most excellent. The work was published in 8 parts, divided as collated above except that Vol. II appeared in two parts, --the first including pp. 1-160 and the second, the remainder. Vol I is reviewed in the Ibis for July 1896; II Pr. I, in July 1900; II Pt. II, in Jan. 1901 (but published in 1900); II in Oct. 1902; IV Pt. I, in the Auk for April 1905; IV Pt II, in July 1905; V Pt. I in the Ibis for July 1906; and V Pt. II, in Jan. 1913 (but publ., probably in 1912). The various signatures bear varying dates which are evidently those of printing, not of publication. All of the work except Vol. V Pt. II is from the pen of Shelley who died before the work was complete. The final part was prepared by W. L. Sclater from Shelley's manuscript notes and proofs, with some addition of his own. There is an index to each volume except the first, but no general index." (Zimmer "Catalogue of the Edward E. Ayer Ornithological Library, Part II" pp 589-590). Beautifully illustrated with 57 colored lithographs after Danish naturalist and artist Henrik Gronvold (1858-1940). There are a few very slight scuffs and small marks on the leather spine covers. A few of the title pages show some darkening along the edges, and there is a little very slight foxing affecting the first couple leaves of Vol. I and Vol. V, Pt. I. All volumes remain tight and show very well. Aside from Kemps' markings and the slight flaws mentioned, this remains a very clean and intact set. All 57 plates have been collated and remain in Fine condition. Due to the size and weight of this set, additional fees will apply for International and/or Priority shipping.