17. DRESSER, Henry Eeles (1838-1915). A Monograph of the Coraciidæ, or Family of the Rollers. Farnborough, Kent: printed by Taylor & Francis, published by the author at Topclyffe Grange, 1893. Folio (380 x 295 mm). Title with Dresser emblem as a vignette, 27 fine hand-colored lithographs, heightened with gum Arabic, drawn on stone by John Gerrard Keulemans from his own drawings, printed by Hanhart, the 22nd and 27th plates with pasted-on correction slips (as issued). Contemporary maroon half morocco over red cloth-covered boards, spine in six compartments with raised bands, gilt lettered in the second and fourth compartments, marbled endpapers, t.e.g. Condition: very light spotting to about 13 plates; light scufing to extremities, spine slightly faded. Provenance: Lynn Abbott Trust.
an excellent copy of this beautiful work: “a thoroughly detailed study of the [rollers] … with excellent hand-coloured plates.” (Zimmer). The author issued this work as a companion volume to his earlier monograph on Bee-eaters, “the notes on the anatomy and osteology being supplied by Frank E. Beddard and the beautiful hand-coloured drawings by J.G. Keulemans'' (Wood). A note at the front of this volume notes that the edition was limited to 250 copies. Fine Bird Books (1990) p.92; Nissen IVB 270; Wood, p.324; Zimmer p.178.
est. $5000 – £8000