A History of British Birds - Rev. F. O. Morris 1870 - George Bell and Sons, London - Second Edition An exceptional six volume set of this milestone in ornithological illustration containing 365 fine full page hand coloured plates, each one supported by a detailed description. The artwork is by A.F. and C. Lydon, plates engraved and printed by Benjamin Fawcett, arguably the most accomplished of nineteenth century woodblock colour printers.

The preferred second edition with the plates no longer featuring the background colour, in the original gilt pictorial bindings which are particularly bright.
  The Reverend Francis Orpen Morris (1810-1893) was an Irish clergyman, notable as "parson-naturalist" (ornithologist and entomologist) and as the author of many children's books and books on natural history and heritage buildings. He was a pioneer of the movement to protect birds from the plume trade and was a cofounder of the Plumage League.

Six quarto volumes (book size 26x19cm), pp. [2] xii 303 [3]; [2] vi 283 [3]; [2] iv 272 [2]; [2] iv 264 [2]; [2] iv 247 [3]; [2] iv 225 [3]. In publisher’s green embossed cloth, spines with intricate gilt decorations, illustration of heron and lettering, boards decorated in blind and each volume with a different larger gilt vignette of birds to front board and in blind to rear board, black coated endpapers.
  Condition: Near fine, light foxing to edges, endpapers and less so to title pages, some leaves still unopened with bolts uncut, small tear to 'Magpie' plate in volume one, not affecting text or image, neatly repaired, in fine cloth bindings with gilt to spines and boards particularly bright.   Ref: 111268   Price: HK$ 12,000