Find Lots

• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  The Collection of Martin Copley AM
• Sale Date:
  22 Oct 2017 ~ 2pm
• Lot #:
  37
• Lot Description:
  GOULD, John. The birds of Australia
  London, [1840]-69. Eight volumes large folio, with 681 hand-coloured lithographed plates by the author and Elizabeth Gould, H.C. Richter and Edward Lear, 3 double-page; contemporary dark green morocco, sides with broad gilt borders, spines fully gilt, gilt edges, by Rivière. A little foxing, a few plates slightly affected.
• Notes:
  A fine set of this magnificent work, in Gould’s own estimation his finest achievement. During his two years in Australia he travelled through New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania, and with the assistance of other collectors, was able to identify more than 300 new bird species. This is an original subscriber’s set, with the bookplates of Lord Braybrooke of Audley End (included in the subscribers list as the Hon. Charles Neville). Some 250 sets were printed, of which many have been broken up and many others reside in institutional libraries: the number of sets remaining in private hands, in collector’s condition, must now be very small.
• Estimate:
  A$300,000 - 400,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

  Can't see the realised price? Upgrade your subscription now!

• Category:
  Books & Manuscripts

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.