The ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq, fellow of the Royal Society : in three books : wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described : the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plate

London: A.C. for John Martyn, printer to the Royal Society, 1678. First edition in English. Very Good. Folio (34 cm); [12], 441, [7] pages, 80 leaves of plates (two of them unnumbered). Title in red and black. Books 2 and 3 each preceded by inserted leaf bearing table for respective book. Mitered triple-panel leather over pasteboard, with gouges used to create a scalloped line inside the center panel and rhomboid floral tool at corners. The outer and inner panels are etched with sprinkles, while the middle panels are decorated with a variation of "cat's paw" etching. Sewn on six raised cords. Rather worn on lower board with areas of abrasion, upper board intact. Corners rebuilt. Some old repairs to leather. Joints holding strong and now reinforced with Japanese tissue. Text and plates bright and clean. References: Wing (2nd ed.); W2880; Keynes, G. Ray, 39; Osler; 971; Casey Wood 629 ("One of the most important treatises on ornithology of all time, being the first systematic classification of the birds of the world.") Binding reference: Miller, Meeting by Accident, p.37.

Four years after Willughby's death in 1672, John Ray completed the text from Willughby's notes with the aid of funds provided by the widow. Ray produced this English version of two years later, with three additional plates. A fundamental treatise. (Inventory #: 6252)