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Lot 109

WILLUGHBY (FRANCIS) AND JOHN RAY
Ornithologiae libri tres: in quibus aves omnes hactenus cognitae in methodum naturis suis convenientem redactae accurate describuntur, FIRST EDITION, John Martyn, 1676

27 November 2018, 13:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

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WILLUGHBY (FRANCIS) AND JOHN RAY

Ornithologiae libri tres: in quibus aves omnes hactenus cognitae in methodum naturis suis convenientem redactae accurate describuntur, FIRST EDITION, variant with reset title-page, 77 engraved plates, 2 folding letterpress tables (one with very small rust hole), occasional browning to text, lacking initial imprimatur leaf, later mottled calf, gilt panelled spine with raised bands, morocco spine label, head of spine slightly chipped [ESTC R471002; Anker 532 (variant); Nissen IVB 991; Zimmer, p.676], folio (360 x 230mm.), John Martyn, 1676

Footnotes

An attractive copy of Willughby and Ray's "cornerstone of modern systematic ornithology, being the first book on the classification of birds without respect to geographical boundaries" (Zimmer). The present copy is the somewhat rarer variant of the first edition, only two copies of which are listed on ESTC (in the Royal Library and The Folger). Willughby died from pleurisy during the preparation of the work, but Ray saw it through publication in 1676, with an English edition two years later.

Additional information

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