The Birds of Great Britain: Rare Book of the Week

A first edition copy of the landmark 19th century ornithological publication The Birds of Great Britain by John Gould is coming up for sale at Tennants on August 22 with an estimate of £25,000-£35,000.

Celebrated for its scientific accuracy, artistic excellence and detailed life-like depictions, the five-volume work was published between 1862 and 1873 and features 367 hand-colored lithographs depicting all the bird species in Britain that were known at the time. Not only did it serve as they key reference for British ornithology, but it set the standard for natural history illustrations. 

The volumes are sold with provenance from Almeric Hugh Paget, 1st Baron Queenborough (1861-1949), the British industrialist and politician, Birch Bernstein, and H.H. Henley, and the books will be offered in the Books, Maps & Manuscripts Sale 

Other highlights in the sale include a very good copy of the fine botanical work Illustratio Systematis Sexualis Linnaei…. An Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus by John Miller (estimate: £8,000-£12,000). Miller, born Johann Sebastian Mueller in Nuremberg, published the work in parts between 1770 and 1777, and the volume is filled with accurate and beautiful illustrations of the landmark system of Carl Linnaeus. Miller’s illustrations were sent to Linnaeus himself, who is said to have praised them. 

The book was previously gifted to Ackworth School in Pontefract by Ellen Gurney, whose father-in-law, banker and philanthropist Samuel Gurney, owned West Ham Park, which was home to the botanical garden created by previous owner Dr. John Fothergill and where Miller collected the specimens for his work.

Also going under the hammer in the sale is a group of 42 17th century calendars of prisoners from Stafford Gaol (estimate: £3,000-£5,000. Dating from between March 1661 and August 1688, the calendars list the details of prisoners and their charging. Examples of charges listed include: 

• "Elizabeth Woolley alias Bell of Elford in ye County of Stafford upon suspicion of having two husbands"
• "William Bullorke for mourning Richard Burne Minister of Cannock by discharging a pistoll in the church"
• four men accused of being Popish Priests, and charges of burglary, highway robbery, stealing livestock, and counterfeiting coins