Beschreibung:

GOULD, John (1804-1881). An Introduction to the Birds of Great Britain . London: Taylor and Francis for the author, 1873. 8 o (217 x 132 mm). Original red cloth, gilt-lettered on front cover (minor wear to spine ends). Provenance : Rowland, Viscount Hill, of Hawkstone, THE DEDICATEE OF GOULD'S Birds of Great Britain (bookplate, presentation inscription from the author on the title-page: "Viscount Hill with the author's kind regards 8th Dec. 1873"). THE DEDICATION COPY OF GOULD'S Introduction Gould issued this separate introduction to The Birds of Great Britain in octavo format "for the convenience of correction before printing it for the folio work" (p. [i]). Gould's Birds of Great Britain was originally issued in parts from 1862 to 1873, with the final part (no. 25) containing the folio version of his Preface. Apart from the dedication and preface, the octavo Introduction also includes a "general view of 'The Birds of Great Britain'" (containing additional information obtained during the progress of the work and notices of those species which occur in the British Isles but are not specifically part of its avifauna), a 14-pp. "List of Subscribers" (which includes the Right Hon. Viscount Hill), and a 4-pp. "Prospectus of the works on Ornithology, Etc., by John Gould." Gould concludes his note "To the Reader" in the present volume: "It should be borne in mind that this 'Introduction' is not intended in any way in substitution for the letterpress already published in the folio work, but rather in augmentation of what is there stated and as a general summary. Those who do not already possess the folio edition will not be able to dispense with it on the acquisition of the present volume, while, it is hoped, it will be found a useful supplement and index." McGill/Wood 365 (mentions a portrait, not present in the Norman copy and probably inserted later); Nissen IVB 372 note; Sauer 26; Norman 918.