London, for the author, 1871-1896. In nine volumes. Large 4to (31.5 x 25.5 cm). Text; 723 lithographed plates after John Gerrard Keulemans, Joseph Wolf and Edward Neale, of which 721 finely hand-coloured, PLUS 17 duplicate plates with slight differences in colouring. Uniform contemporary half morocco over red pebbled boards. Gilt title on the spines. Original pictorial front wrappers bound in.

The magnum opus of the British ornithologist Henry Eeles Dresser (1838-1915), "beautifully illustrated by J. G. Keulemans, Joseph Wolf, E. Neale and others" (Zimmer). Dresser describes 624 species, including "...586 species inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region, or 98 more than are included by Degland and Gerbe, 126 more than are in the second edition of Temminck's 'Manuel d'Ornithologie', and 159 more than Gould has in his 'Birds of Europe'." (Dresser, preface to volume I). With the almost always absent second plate of the little gull, showing a young bird in winter plumage. Also includes the often lacking volume nine which was published much later, in 1895-1896. In that supplemental volume, Dresser expanded the region covered from south-east Russia to "the whole of the elevated plateau of Persia", an area that he first believed to be not a part of the western Palaearctic region. Zimmer gives a complete collation. The British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe (1847-1909) assisted Dresser in writing the first 17 parts, but quietly left the enterprise (see, e.g., McGhie). This is one of the few books naming the colourist (vol. 9, p. xii), and indeed, Mr H. Piffaretti did an outstanding job. However, this set contains 17 duplicate plates, showing interesting differences in the hand-colouring. The following are included twice. Volume II: 57-59, 80; III: 148; IV: 228; V: 342; VI: 405; VII: 515; IX: 636, 637, 644, 681, 708, and 717. Provenance: previously sold at Bonham's in 2005. Uncut. Minimal wear to board edges; a few skilful repairs; small chip in the lower outer corner of plate 719; otherwise an excellent, clean and unmarked set. Anker 120 (lists 722 plates of which 720 in colour, and two - no.'s 262 and 485 plain); Cat BM(NH) p. 479; McGhie, H. A. (2017) Henry Dresser and Victorian ornithology. Birds, books and business; Nissen IVB, 267; Sitwell Fine Bird Books, 92; Zimmer, pp. 177-179.