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Gould, John. The birds of Australia and the adjacent islands.…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
22-Oct-2017
Lot No.
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Description:
Gould, John. The birds of Australia and the adjacent islands. London, The Author, 1837-38. The two parts, all published, large folio, with 20 fine hand-coloured plates by the author and Elizabeth Gould, notice to subscribers slip in the second part, half green morocco, spine gilt-decorated, retaining the printed wrappers of both parts and the small armorial labels of Lord Northwick, an original subscriber, in folding cloth box with leather labels. A little foxing, slightly affecting a few plates, a fine set. The rarest of Gould's works, suspended after his decision to travel to Australia to make observations and obtain more specimens, then cancelled on his return two years later, by which time he had resolved to start afresh. The subscribers were requested to return the two parts, the price to be allowed off the new work, which was to retain only those of the original plates which the author decided were accurately figured: just nine of them were incorporated in the new, complete work. Most of the subscribers complied, and Gould himself foresaw that as a result the surviving copies would become a prized collector's item.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Printed & Written Material: Books