Mosley's A History of British Birds - Three Volumes (bound in two) with 274 Originally Hand-colored Lithographs

Artist or Author: S. L. Mosley

Work: British Birds, their Nests, and Eggs

Date of Publication: 1884-1887

Style: Three Volumes (bound in two) with 274 Originally Hand-colored Lithographs

Paper Size: ~ 6 1/8" by 8 1/2"

Condition: The work is in good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Description of the work: These three volumes (bound in two) with 274 lithographs are S. L. Mosley's A History of British Birds, their Nests, and Eggs. They were published between 1884 and 1887 by the author in Huddersfield, England. This first edition is considered the superior presentation and noted as such on title.

The books are bound in brown quarter morocco over cloth board with raised, gilt-decorated spines. There are 274 total originally hand-colored lithographs. Title to volume I only (title of volume III never published), 159 lithograph plates of birds (of 160 only numbered 1-163, lacking plate 106, with 158-159 never issued and 150-151 on a single sheet), and 115 lithograph plates of nests eggs (of 116 only numbered 1-115 with 109 bis, lacking plate 96, plate 94 misnumbered 93), tissue-guards throughout.

Seth Lister Mosley (1848–1929) was a naturalist, taxidermist, and illustrator.  He was largely self taught with little formal schooling.  He served as the first curator of the Tolson Memorial Museum in Huddersfield in 1922.