Details
BOLTON, James (d.1799). Harmonia Ruralis; or, an essay towards a natural history of British Song Birds. Halifax: G.Nicholson of Manchester for the author and B. & J.White of London, 1794-1796.
2 volumes in one, small 2° (328 x 224mm). Frontispiece and 80 FINE HAND-COLOURED ETCHED PLATES by Bolton, each plate numbered in manuscript in a contemporary hand. Contemporary red straight-grained morocco gilt, covers with rule and roll-tooled border, spine in six compartments with double raised bands, green morocco lettering-piece in one, the others with repeat decoration composed from various small tools including a centrally-placed bird on a branch, gilt turn-ins, g.e. (small sections of the lettering-piece lacking). Provenance: Francis, 14th Lord Gray (1765-1842, armorial bookplate).
FIRST EDITION. A FINE COPY OF THE COLOURED ISSUE. "Bolton allotted one plate to each species, with a hand-colored etching... and a descriptive text on the facing page... The very detailed text was prepared with great care and accuracy... Bolton described every part of the bird, from the tip of its beak to the end of its tail, carfully noting any distinctive marks on the plumage. His word pictures, in fact, were frequently more evocative of the character of the bird than his art. The coloring varies... A few copies of the first issue are finely colored." (C.Jackson Bird Etchings 1985, p.170). BMC NH p.192; Fine Bird Books p.60; Mengel 308; Mullens and Swann p.78; Nissen IVB 115.
2 volumes in one, small 2° (328 x 224mm). Frontispiece and 80 FINE HAND-COLOURED ETCHED PLATES by Bolton, each plate numbered in manuscript in a contemporary hand. Contemporary red straight-grained morocco gilt, covers with rule and roll-tooled border, spine in six compartments with double raised bands, green morocco lettering-piece in one, the others with repeat decoration composed from various small tools including a centrally-placed bird on a branch, gilt turn-ins, g.e. (small sections of the lettering-piece lacking). Provenance: Francis, 14th Lord Gray (1765-1842, armorial bookplate).
FIRST EDITION. A FINE COPY OF THE COLOURED ISSUE. "Bolton allotted one plate to each species, with a hand-colored etching... and a descriptive text on the facing page... The very detailed text was prepared with great care and accuracy... Bolton described every part of the bird, from the tip of its beak to the end of its tail, carfully noting any distinctive marks on the plumage. His word pictures, in fact, were frequently more evocative of the character of the bird than his art. The coloring varies... A few copies of the first issue are finely colored." (C.Jackson Bird Etchings 1985, p.170). BMC NH p.192; Fine Bird Books p.60; Mengel 308; Mullens and Swann p.78; Nissen IVB 115.