A natural history of English song-birds, including such foreign birds as are usually brought over and esteemed for their singing: Their proper Management, Diseases, and Cures. To which are added, figures of the Cock, Hen, and Egg of each species, exactly copied from nature, by Mr. Eleazar Albin, and curiously engraven on copper. with several improvements, under the article of Canary-Birds de [ALBIN, Eleazar, fl. 1713-1759] - 1779

London: printed for T. Lowndes, No 77, in Fleet-Street, and S. Bladon, in Paternoster-Row, 1779. Half-Calf. Fine. Small 8vo: [4],107,[3]pp, with a frontispiece and 23 further full-page copper-engraved plates, each showing the cock, hen, and (often) egg of a different songbird. Without the final leaf of advertisements. Recently rebound to period style by Fitterer in half calf, spine in six compartments between raised bands, black morocco lettering piece gilt, marbled boards, end papers renewed. A Fine copy, inside and out, the many plates in rich, dark impressions. Zimmer, p. 3 (incorrectly identifying the format as 12mo). Lowndes 25. Anker 7. Mullens, p. 14 (noting that this New Edition appeared with both colored and uncolored plates). Albin illustrated (and probably wrote) this book on English song birds, which first appeared in 1737; ESTC records seven editions, culminating with this "new edition corrected." Along with denizens of hedgerow and hillside, the author offered information on a domestic favorite in a lengthy section on canaries, here newly expanded, including advice on choosing a bird. Originally produced in a small edition, available in both a luxury colored issue and an issue with black-and-white plates, this later edition features mirror images of the plates from the second edition. It also claims to be the first such work to depict birds' eggs. Albin's opus, A Natural History of Birds (1731), was the first ornithological text to use colored plates, and made him one of the first successful compilers of profusely illustrated natural history books for the general reader. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed.