Lot 7: Beebe, William

A Monograph of the Pheasants. London: Witherby for the New York Zoological Society, 1918-22 4 volumes, folio (16 x 11 5/8 in.; 409 x 295 mm). 90 fine color lithographed or collotype plates after A. Thorburn, G. E. Lodge, H. Grönvold, L. A. 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, title-pages in red and black, half-titles. Publisher's maroon cloth gilt; volume 1 with some wear and rubbing at extremities and with tear on spine, other volumes with minimal wear.

Ayer/Zimmer 49; Copenhagen/Anker 31; Ellis/Mengel 203; McGill/Wood 228; Nissen, IVB 84; Nissen, SVB 84; Tate 119

Harrison Williams (bookplates) ¿ John I. Moore (bookplates and signature dated 7 November 1952)

First edition, Number 296 of 600 sets. "Perhaps the greatest ornithological work of the present century, notable not only for its beauty and the wealth of information it contains, but also for the unusual grace of its prose" (Ellis/Mengel). Beebe's text is based on his own extensive expeditions through Asia, as well as his study of the collections of the leading natural history museums around the world.