Familiar Wild Birds - W. Swaysland - Illustrations by Archibald Thorburn - Complete set [c. 1880]

Antique two-volume set of “Familiar Wild Birds” written by the British ornithologist W. Swaysland, published by Cassell and Company in the late 19th century.

The set contains four series, divided across two books, with beautiful color and black-and-white illustrations, including those by the well-known bird artist Archibald Thorburn. Many of the illustrations are richly and deeply colored, which is always impressive in books of this age. The shapes and silhouettes of the birds are as true as the real deal.

The author's writing style is both professional and charming, and it was written to draw attention to native birds and their conservation. You will find many informative facts in these books, and the birds are discussed not only in a scientific manner, but also with great love and adoration. Among the things mentioned are their behavior, where to find them in the wild, what their eggs look like, and sometimes even how they are known in modern culture (for example, how the Raven is mentioned in the work of Edgar Allan Poe).

The books are bound in a classic Victorian half-leather binding with gilded spine titles. Due to their size and warm color, they form a particularly decorative addition to a bookcase or interior with classic or natural tones.

In addition to their decorative value, these books are a beautiful example of the popularity of nature study and ornithology in the 19th century, a period in which illustrated nature books were an important means of making knowledge about flora and fauna accessible to the public.

This set would be a particularly beautiful addition to antique book collections with a theme of animals and nature.

Details:

• Title: Familiar Wild Birds

• Author: W. Swaysland

• Publisher: Cassell and Company, Limited

• Illustrations: Archibald Thorburn

• Language: English

• Year: ca. 1880–1890

• Binding: Hardcover with half-leather binding

• Condition: Good antique, signs of age on the cover, interior is neat with pristine illustrations