Sclater & Keuleman’s A Monograph of the Jacamars and the Puff-Birds – Volume with 55 Bird Lithographs

This first edition volume of 55 originally hand-colored lithographs is Philip Lutley Sclater’s A Monograph of the Jacamars and the Puff-Birds, or Families Galbulidae and Bucconidae. The work was published for Sclater in London by Taylor & Francis and R. H. Porter between 1879 and 1882. The illustrations were all by the noted John Gerard Keulemans. The lithographs were printed by Hanhart.

The volume is bound from the original seven parts. It is bound in contemporary maroon half morocco. It has the list of subscribers present which includes notable ornithologists including Baird, Dresser, Lilford, Meyer, Seebohm, and Shelley. There are 55 hand-colored lithographs, some are heightened with gum arabic.

Sclater was a prolific orinthologist and longtime editor of Ibis. His personal collection of 9,000 birds was given to the British Museum in 1886.

“The introduction to the monograph gives, among other information, a general account of the two groups of birds and a comprehensive bibliography. The special part of the work contains detailed synonymies, descriptions, information about geographical descriptions and other facts relating to altogether 62 forms, 60 of which [this includes some plates with two birds] are figured on the beautiful plates, executed in hand-colored lithography.” (Anker)

Provenance: The Lord Garioch 1913 [bookplate]; Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie KT JP (1865 – 1955).