Introduction to Gould's Birds of Asia.

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

(London: Sotheran 1883). Elephant folio. Orig. quarter cloth spine with plain limp paper wrappers and the original printed paper titling-label on front cover. (9 pp.). With a fine full-page hand-coloured lithograph plate entitled "Diceium Eximium Sclater" del et lith. by J. Gould & W. Hart. Fine and extremely scarce. This separately issued "Introduction" was published in 1883 when Bowdler Sharpe completed John Gould's last ornithological classic The Birds of Asia. Issued in 35 parts Pt. 1 being published in 1850 and Pt. 35 in 1883 the last three numbers as well as the Introduction completed by Sharpe after Gould's death in 1881. This separately issued Introduction is exceedingly scarce with no copy appearing at auction for the last 30 years.