Details
ANDREW G. C. TUCKER
Ornithologia Danmoniensis: or, an history of the habits and economy of Devonshire birds. London: for the author, sold by T.Cadell and W.Davies, 1809. Parts I & II (all published), 4 (305 x 247mm). Collation: [A]2 B-F4; G-M4. [Part I:] title (verso blank), dedication to J.B.Bastard & Sir L.Palk (verso blank), "Introduction: being a cursory essay.." pp.[i]-xl; [part II:] pp.xli-lxxxviii. 13 plates (7 uncoloured aquatint and line-engraved plates by I.Warner after W.R.Jordan, 6 also present in hand-coloured state). (Uncoloured 'Shrike' plate spotted, coloured 'Sparrow-hawk' plate with light marginal soiling). Original wrappers, part I stitched, part II with contents unbound (part I wrappers lightly soiled and with some neat repairs), both within a single blue cloth solander box.
A fine copy of this very rare work: the first on the avifauna of a single English county. The work was planned to comprise 24 parts at 7s. per part with coloured plates and 5s. uncoloured plates, the parts to form two volumes. In the event only these first two parts were ever published. The author was apparently a Devon resident: the prospectus was written from Ashburton, on the edge of Dartmoor. Little is known of either the artist or the engraver but the plates are undoubtedly of high quality. They are titled The Redback'd Shrike (coloured and uncoloured states), The Sparrow Hawk (coloured and uncoloured), The Woodlark (coloured and uncoloured), The Green Woodpecker (coloured and uncoloured), The Yellow Wagtail (coloured and uncoloured), The Young Hen Harrier (coloured and uncoloured), The Female Sparrow Hawk (uncoloured only). BM (NH) V, p.2148; Wood p.603. (2)
Ornithologia Danmoniensis: or, an history of the habits and economy of Devonshire birds. London: for the author, sold by T.Cadell and W.Davies, 1809. Parts I & II (all published), 4 (305 x 247mm). Collation: [A]
A fine copy of this very rare work: the first on the avifauna of a single English county. The work was planned to comprise 24 parts at 7s. per part with coloured plates and 5s. uncoloured plates, the parts to form two volumes. In the event only these first two parts were ever published. The author was apparently a Devon resident: the prospectus was written from Ashburton, on the edge of Dartmoor. Little is known of either the artist or the engraver but the plates are undoubtedly of high quality. They are titled The Redback'd Shrike (coloured and uncoloured states), The Sparrow Hawk (coloured and uncoloured), The Woodlark (coloured and uncoloured), The Green Woodpecker (coloured and uncoloured), The Yellow Wagtail (coloured and uncoloured), The Young Hen Harrier (coloured and uncoloured), The Female Sparrow Hawk (uncoloured only). BM (NH) V, p.2148; Wood p.603. (2)