[London], Curpotten for Fine Sporting Interests, 1979. Folio (40.6 x 30.5 cm). Original watercolour by Rickman, mounted in passepartout, acting as frontispiece. Title in black and red, [vi] pp.; Portrait of Rickman; 31 full-colour plates, tipped in and each tissue-guarded and with an explanatory text leaf, two black-and-white plates (in the rear), and 34 black-and-white pencil sketches on titles and text leaves, one tailpiece. Original burgundy full morocco. Spine with five raised, gilt-stippled bands; compartments with gilt borders, bird vignettes, and title; boards with gilt-rolled borders consisting of bird figures and floral elements and larger gilt bird vignettes. Iridescent red silk endpapers; pastedowns with gilt-rolled floral borders. All edges gilt. In original burgundy half linen clamshell box with burgundy morocco spine matching the book's spine, gilt ornithological vignette and inside covered with protective dark red felt panels.

A rare "red" copy, being one of a limited edition of 26, this being no. 17 signed by the author and illustrator, and with an extra, original watercolour not present in the "ordinary" edition of 500 copies, which was published simultaneously in a green half-morocco binding with a simple green linen slipcase. The British bird painter Philip Rickman (1891-1982) is renowned for his lively, accurate illustrations of birds in their natural habitat. His career spanned over 60 years. We found only a single auction record, in 1987, when another copy from this limited series fetched GBP 2500. A true modern ornithological rarity, and a fine copy.