The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Catesby
The rare first edition of the first book with coloured plates to include American birds.
Bird books were popular in eighteenth century England, both as works of scholarship and as splendid collectables for the libraries of wealthy connoisseurs. The naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) born in Essex, produced one of the most lavish of these with this magnificent work, the result of a series of voyages to North America.
For more detail on this fascinating edition, view it online here: http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/rare...