Details
BOLTON, James (d.1799). Harmonia Ruralis; or, an essay towards a natural history of British Song Birds. London: Henry G.Bohn, 1845.
2 volumes in one, 4° (298 x 232mm). Frontispiece and 80 hand-coloured etched plates by Bolton, wood-engraved vignettes on titles. Contemporary green half, spine gilt with red morocco lettering-piece, g.e. (extremities a trifle scuffed). Provenance: Henry H.F.Bolckow (1806-1878, armorial bookplate).
Second edition, third(?) issue comprising the sheets printed for Gilling in 1824 with new strikes of Bolton's original etched plates with new lettering. The Martin copy included a lithographed copy of plate 41 (Skylark), this copy includes the original etching. The text includes the table (compiled by Daines Barrington) awarding 17 birds marks out of 20 in five categories: this early Which report awards the Nightingale 90 and the Reed-Sparrow 8 (it fails to score at all in the "Mellowness of Tone" and "Plaintive Notes" categories). BMC NH p.192; cf. Fine Bird Books p.60; Mengel 310; Mullens and Swann p.79; cf. Nissen IVB 115.
2 volumes in one, 4° (298 x 232mm). Frontispiece and 80 hand-coloured etched plates by Bolton, wood-engraved vignettes on titles. Contemporary green half, spine gilt with red morocco lettering-piece, g.e. (extremities a trifle scuffed). Provenance: Henry H.F.Bolckow (1806-1878, armorial bookplate).
Second edition, third(?) issue comprising the sheets printed for Gilling in 1824 with new strikes of Bolton's original etched plates with new lettering. The Martin copy included a lithographed copy of plate 41 (Skylark), this copy includes the original etching. The text includes the table (compiled by Daines Barrington) awarding 17 birds marks out of 20 in five categories: this early Which report awards the Nightingale 90 and the Reed-Sparrow 8 (it fails to score at all in the "Mellowness of Tone" and "Plaintive Notes" categories). BMC NH p.192; cf. Fine Bird Books p.60; Mengel 310; Mullens and Swann p.79; cf. Nissen IVB 115.