Hidden deep in their vaults, Sotheran’s have uncovered, after more than a century, a trove of 60 complete unbound sets of the plates and texts dubbed “the last of the fine bird books” by the great Victorian ornithologist John Gould (1804–1881).
For over 250 years, Sotheran’s has been one of the leading rare book dealers in the world. A proud part of their history is their relationship with Gould. His large folio volumes of hand-coloured lithographs of birds were produced to the highest possible standards and continue to delight collectors around the world. On Gould’s death in 1881, Sotheran’s, having published several of his books, acquired his remaining stock of plates and worked with naturalist Richard Bowdler Sharpe on his last great unfinished work: the Monograph of the Paradiseidae, or Birds of Paradise, and Ptilonorhynchidae, or Bower-Birds.
This magisterial work includes 79 lithographic plates and represented the most comprehensive survey at the time of this most splendid and exotic bird families. The work was completed in the years following Gould’s death and, between 1891 and 1898, around 300 copies were hand-coloured and issued by Sotheran’s, complete with text, to subscribers. As here, the sets were issued in parts for binding by the collector. Complete sets are extremely rare.
There is now a unique opportunity to acquire one of these uncoloured sets, which will be delivered in a custom-made box, at the special price of £4,200 each (including VAT). Each set is not only a wonderful decorative record of a magnificent family of birds, but also a chance to sample the unadorned craft of the lithographer and a rare opportunity to own an example of a great work in progress. What’s more, £500 from each set sold will be donated to the RSPB to support our ongoing mission.
The boxed sets (which measure 625 x 455 x 75mm) will be available in time for Christmas, and considerable demand is anticipated from collectors and institutions.
You can secure your copy now by following the link below. A complete set is also available to view at Sotheran’s Anthenaeum, 22 Charing Cross Road, London.
See more images and pre-order your copy of Gould’s Birds of Paradise
