The Natural History of Humming Birds. Volumes I & II. The Naturalist's Library. Ornithology.

EDINBURGH: W H LIZARS, 1833 1st edition in the original publisher's binding, with 64 hand coloured plates. Humming birds Vol I was the first volume issued in the Naturalist's Library, and this copy of Vol I has a 'Notice of the Naturalist's Library' by Professor Rennie extolling the virtues of the new series, making it a first issue. Both volumes are in their original state with the publisher's (now brown) cloth binding with gilt titles to spine, and green endpapers with the Naturalists' Library watermark to the front endpaper. Both volumes have some fading to the spine and edges, and light pulling to the spine. Corners lightly bumped. Vol I has a couple of small idents to the side of the boards. Vol I has an armorial bookplate of Sir Henry Jardine (1766-1851, related to Sir William Jardine) to the front pastedown. Contents: notice for the series; adverts for North American Ornithology; half title; frontispiece black and white portrait of Linnaeus; hand coloured vignette title page; one further title page; contents listing; advert; Memoir of Linnaeus; and text with black and white illustrations and 34 hand coloured plates - 147 pages in all; publisher's adverts to rear. Vol.II: half title; black and white frontispiece portrait of Pennant; hand coloured vignette title page; 3 further title pages (one for insertion into Vol I); contents listing; advert; Memoir of Pennant; text with 30 hand coloured plates; synopsis; index; and publisher's advert - 166 pages in all. Both volumes are generally clean. Vol I has some lettering and a little grubbiness to the front pastedown and some light unobtrusive foxing in places. The rear free endpaper has the imprint of some figures. Vol II has some offsetting and spotting to tissue guards and the occasional spotting to plates. Both are very good copies. Please ask for additional images if you would like to further assess condition.