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 over two books, with beautiful color and black-and-white illustrations, including those by the renowned bird artist Archibald Thorburn. Many of the illustrations are richly and deeply colored, something that is always impressive in books of this age. The shapes and silhouettes of the birds are as lifelike as the real thing.

The author's writing style is both professional and charming, and it is 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 a great deal of love and adoration. Among other things, their behavior is described, where you can find them in the wild, what their eggs look like, and also sometimes 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 gilt lettering on the spine. Due to their size and warm color, they form a particularly decorative set in 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 natural history and ornithology in the 19th century, a period in which illustrated natural history books were an important means of making knowledge about flora and fauna accessible to the public.

This set would be a wonderful addition primarily 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 condition, signs of age on the cover, interior is neat with undamaged illustrations. The spine is somewhat dry and loses material easily, the hinges are slightly weak