Search Results: Birds from Rare Illustrated Books

London: T. Nelson & Sons, 1937. A contribution based chiefly on a study of the Black-Headed Gull. "The Black-headed Gull owes its name to its hood. As the hood is brown, although it may seem black from a distance, the name is not happily chosen. It stresses, moreover, a feature that serves as identification mark in the breeding season only. Outside the breeding season the bird's head is white, with a few dark flacks. A better means of recogition, present at all seasons, is the red legs and beak... The assumption kept in view throughout the book is that the gull, and birds in general, have a mind as well as a body." Quarto, bound in dark blue cloth boards with gilt title, 232 pages, photographic illustrations, stamped 'Wellington College Natural History Society', a very good copy.

Montpellier, 1925. Limited Edition. 'Dieu fait le mal sans malice; Avec des oiseaux tués Et le ralenti des limaces Il commence ma statue Il répare les garnitures De la mer, ses haies de houx, Son système de granit, Toujours mû par les mêmes roues. Maintenant, stupides oiseaux, Vous abandonnez la cage; Oui, la cage des mes os. Rage, rage, c'en est trop! J'aurai la clef du prodige, Je saurai où sont mesa mis, De mourir aucun n'avait l'âge; Mon Dieu où les avez-vous mis?' -CRI ECRIT, JEAN COCTEAU Translating to a 'written cry', the poem's title holds the poet's call to God, placing it before us on the page. 'I will know where my friends are', the poet speaks, demandingly. 'They were too young to die. God, where have you put them?' A strong modern poem by Cocteau; printed with just four lines to a page, the wild, mad voice of the bereaved becomes louder. With a frontispiece by Henri de La Jonquière. Strictly limited to fifty copies on papier de Hollande numbered 1 through 50. This is… Read More

Perth, Western Australia: Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union, 1949. Limited Edition. Edition limited to one hundred and fifty copies only. Rare ephemeral publication illustrated by Eric Thake. Jocularly claims to include: notes on the Genera Synecdoche, Oxymoron and Anacoluthon; an Account of the Reaction of Caged Parrots to the Affectations of the Human Voice; Land Birds of the Sargasso Sea; notes on the Origin of the Habit of ‘Wasping' in the Hoatzin and Yaffle; variation in Clutch Size in the Genus Apteryx; et cetera. Oblong octavo, illustrated wrappers, 2 volumes, no. 1 (Jan. 1949) - no. 2 (Mar. 1952) 24 pages + 28 pages, near fine.

Sydney: Printed by D. Smith, 1932. Lovely book of Australian bushland poems with bird themes, signed by the author. Second edition. Large octavo in blue wrappers and outer dust-jacket; hand-coloured illustrations, foxing, a very good copy.

Sydney: Privately Printed by the Beacon Press, 1953. This is copy no. 10 from a total issue of 200 standard deluxe copies, the first 40 of which are bound in quarter vellum. A remarkable published celebration of the Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock tradition, lovingly prepared with original tipped-in Japanese woodblock prints by Neville Barnett in a strictly limited edition of 200 copies. This is the last book published by Barnett, and was completed in the year of his decease. As a publisher, Barnett insisted upon the very best materials, with elegant type cut in Germany, printed upon textured hand- made paper by the highly respected Sydney artisan, Harrie Mortlock, owner of the Beacon Press. For binding his magnificent books, Barnett imported silk from China and brocade from Japan, combining these fine fabrics with pale English vellum for an immaculate result. Quarto, 27 tipped colour plates throughout; original quarter vellum with cream cloth boards, a fine copy.

Sydney: Privately printed by the Beacon Press, 1953. First Edition. Standard de-luxe edition of one hundred and sixty copies (total issue of two hundred copies). Quarto, tipped colour plates throughout; original quarter vellum cream cloth boards, a near fine copy. As a publisher, Percy Nevillle Barnett insisted upon the finest materials, with elegant type cut in Europe and printed on paper handmade by the highly respected artisan, Harrie Mortlock, owner of the Beacon Press. A remarkable celebration of the Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock tradition.

Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd, 1923. Mabel Lucie Attwell. Collection of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen with delightful illustrations by Mabel Lucie Attwell. Includes "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Flying Trunk", "Little Tuk" and "The Little Shepherdess" Octavo, 64 pages, colour frontispiece + one full page colour plate, black & white illustrations throughout, original owner's gift inscription dated 23.12.23, a very good copy.

Paris: Editions Marcel Gasnier, 1945. Beautiful French children's book about a young sailor called Jean-Francois Popineau, his ostrich, and their adventures among the Moouri Tahitiens. Large slim quarto, original papered boards, vibrant colour photolithographic illustration throughout; front board moderately damp-stained, otherwise a very good copy, internally fine.

Printed by Pepperday and Company: Sydney, 1933. Quaint book of Australian bushland poems, signed by the author and dated 1936. Large octavo, original boards within green dust-jacket, colour illustrations of Australian parrots throughout; some foxing and a little wear affecting the paper label, this is a very good copy.

New York: R. Shugg and Co, 1872. First Edition. Very rare story about Cockie, a mischievous and loquacious sulphur-crested cockatoo, published in America. The author describes Cockie's life in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood and his voyage across the Pacific to his new home in America where Cockie scandalises the household maid and local clergyman with his outrageous commentary. Published as part of the Cinderella series under the 'Juvenile Classics' banner of the Rutherford Park Press, this scarce and ephemeral children's title is not recorded by Muir. Pamphlet, original illustrated wrappers, 173 mm x 260 mm, 4 pages; a very good copy.

London: Andrew Melrose, 1902. First Edition. Percy F. S. Spence. Victorian collection of bedtime stories classically illustrated by the Australian artist, Percy F.S. Spence (1868 -1933). Oblong octavo, cloth boards, 76 pages, black & white illustrations, a very good copy of an uncommon book.