Details
BEEBE, Charles William. A Monograph of the Pheasants. London: Witherby & Co. for the New York Zoological Society, 1918-1922.
4 volumes, 2° (390 x 288mm). Half-titles, titles printed in red and black. 198 plates comprising 90 coloured lithographic or collotype plates after Thorburn, Lodge, Grönvald, Fuertes, C.R.Knight, H.Jones and E.Megargee, 88 photogravure plates (many with 2 images) from photographs by Beebe and others, 20 distribution maps printed in red and black, plates and photogravures with captioned tissue guards. Contemporary red morocco gilt, g.e., by Groschupf of Philadelphia (spines slightly faded, upper corner of vol.III rubbed). Provenance: J.L.Kuser, Jr. (name blocked on front turn-ins).
FIRST EDITION. Limited edition, number 144 of 600 copies. A fine copy of "perhaps the greatest ornithological work of the present century" (Mengel). The provenance is interesting: Beebe's explorations and the subsequent publication were made possible through the financial support of Colonel Kuser, and the frontispiece in volume I is of Kuser's Blood Partridge: "I have taken great pleasure in naming this beautiful Blood Partridge in honour of Colonel Anthony R. Kuser, whose interest and generosity have made possible these researches" (vol.1, p.27). Nissen IVB 84; Anker 31; Zimmer 49; Mengel 203; Wood 228. (4)
4 volumes, 2° (390 x 288mm). Half-titles, titles printed in red and black. 198 plates comprising 90 coloured lithographic or collotype plates after Thorburn, Lodge, Grönvald, Fuertes, C.R.Knight, H.Jones and E.Megargee, 88 photogravure plates (many with 2 images) from photographs by Beebe and others, 20 distribution maps printed in red and black, plates and photogravures with captioned tissue guards. Contemporary red morocco gilt, g.e., by Groschupf of Philadelphia (spines slightly faded, upper corner of vol.III rubbed). Provenance: J.L.Kuser, Jr. (name blocked on front turn-ins).
FIRST EDITION. Limited edition, number 144 of 600 copies. A fine copy of "perhaps the greatest ornithological work of the present century" (Mengel). The provenance is interesting: Beebe's explorations and the subsequent publication were made possible through the financial support of Colonel Kuser, and the frontispiece in volume I is of Kuser's Blood Partridge: "I have taken great pleasure in naming this beautiful Blood Partridge in honour of Colonel Anthony R. Kuser, whose interest and generosity have made possible these researches" (vol.1, p.27). Nissen IVB 84; Anker 31; Zimmer 49; Mengel 203; Wood 228. (4)