Introduction to the Birds of Great Britain

London, 1873. First Edition. Hard Cover. Signed by Author. (London: Printed for the Author by Taylor and Francis 1873). First UK Edition. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO ONE OF THE SUBSCRIBERS. Publisher's red ribbed cloth boards with gilt lettering to the front board (spine appears to be partially restored)and blind-stamped to both the front and back boards. Pale yellow end-papers. 135 pages, followed by a 14 page list of subscribers, followed by a four page "Prospectus of the Works on Ornithology, etc. by John Gould, F.R.S." Inscribed by the author on the title page to subscriber: "Howard Saunders Esq., / with the/ kind regards / of the author / 6th October 1873." The gilt lettering to the front board is particularly bright. There is an attractive former owner's book-plate to the front paste-down of Robert Washington Oates. Overall a tight and clean VG+ copy. FIRST EDITION OF GOULD'S INTRODUCTION, issued separately from The Birds of Great Britain in octavo format "for the convenience of correction before printing it for the folio work" (p. [i]). Apart from the dedication and preface, the octavo Introduction includes a "general view of 'The Birds of Great Britain" (containing additional information obtained during the progress of the work and notices of those species which occur in the British Isles but are not specifically part of its avifauna). Gould concludes his note "To the Reader" in the present volume: "It should be borne in mind that this 'Introduction' is not intended in any way in substitution for the letterpress already published in the folio work, but rather in augmentation of what is there stated and as a general summary. Those who do not already possess the folio edition will not be able to dispense with it on the acquisition of the present volume, while, it is hoped, it will be found a useful supplement and index." Ayer/Zimmer 261; McGill/Wood 365 (mentions a portrait, not present in this nor in the Norman copy and probably inserted later); Nissen IVB 372 note; Norman 918; Sauer 26 The University of Glasgow, which owns a copy of Birds of Great Britain, describes John Gould as "the greatest figure in bird illustration after Audubon. No D/W. Uncommon. Photographs/scans available upon request.