The Birds of South Africa by Layard, Edgar Leopold (Revsied and Augmented By R. Bowdler Sharpe)

London: Bernard Quaritch 890 pages, plus 12 hand colored plates after J. G. Keulemans. Originally published in 1867, this revised edition "eliminates the descriptions of genera and higher groups and the more detailed references included in the original work and consists of descriptions of the species with accounts of the habits and distribution of each. The work appeared in 6 parts ..." between 1875 and 1884 (Zimmer, 1926, pp 378-379). Zimmer continues "The systematic list of species does not agree in all the details of nomenclature with the general text. The latter contains numerous descriptions of new species and genera. These are to be accredited to Sharpe who, as editor of the new edition, rewrote many parts of it and added much new matter." Consistent with all other copies inspected, and detailed elsewhere (i.e. Mendelssohn, 1910) pages 856-866 are lacking. Leather over spine and corners is rubbed, and there are a couple of tears at head of spine. All spine text is intact and remains bright. Text leaves remain un-cut. Top hinge is broke with some separation between frontis and title page. Volume, however, remains fairly tight. One inch deep tear along upper edge of dedication page, about three inches in length and not affecting any text. Light to moderate foxing throughout affecting plate XII (frontispiece). Remaining plates are generally good. Occasional penciled marginalia. . Revised. Half Leather - Hardbound. Fair/No Dust Jacket. Illus. by J. G. Keulemans. sm 4to.