Willughby, Francis 1635 1672 ; John Ray 1627 1705 (3 results)

Paneled Calf. Condition: Near Fine+. First Edition thus. First Edition in English of "one of the most important treatises on ornithology of all time, being the first systematic classification of the birds of the world." (Wood). Translated, edited and slightly expanded by Ray from Willughby's Latin original. Crown folio (364 x 231mm): [12],53,[3],55-271,[3],273-441,[7]pp, with two full-page letterpress tables and 80 leaves of plates, most unsigned but some credited to Thomas Browne and three by F. H. van Hove, two by W. Faithorne, and one by W. Sherwin. The two engraved plates showing techniques and equipment for snaring birds, often absent, are bound in at p. 28 (as prescribed); the remaining 78 numbered plates (depicting more than 200 species) appear at the end. An excellent example, beautifully bound to style in recent quarter calf over marbled paper-covered boards, spine in seven compartments divided by gilt-ruled raised bands, end papers renewed, title page in red and black. Binding pristine, title page lightly soiled, text block generally clean throughout and virtually free of foxing, two plates with short marginal tears far from images, old repair to one plate corner. Wing W2880. Nissen IVB 991. BM(NH) V, p.2331. Wood (McGill), p.629. Zimmer (Ayer Ornithological Library), pp. 676-78. Anker 532 ("marks an epoch in the history of ornithology"). Lowndes 2939. Bibliotheca Bibliographici 39. Mullens, pp. 7-8. In the 1660's, John Ray and his pupil (and, later, patron) Francis Willughby toured the Continent, gathering material for their planned complete classification of the vegetable and animal kingdoms. After Willughby's early death in 1672, which deprived Ray of both a collaborator and a friend, Ray took over his notes, and, having edited the incomplete manuscript and added his own observations, published Francisci Willughbeii ornithologiae libri tres; totum opus recognovit, digressit, supplevit Joannes Raius, in 1676. The present work, a translation by Ray, was published two years later and includes three more plates than the Latin edition as well as an expanded text, including three additional sections by Ray on fowling, falconry, and songbirds. In all, Ray and Willughby described more than 230 species, which they had observed. Ray's systemization was revolutionary (Zimmer calls it the "cornerstone of modern systematic ornithology"), preserving the broad division of land and water birds, but rather than subdividing functionally, on grounds of diet, singing ability, and other behavioral traits, he introduced a classification based on anatomy, using for criteria foot structure, beak form, and body size. In the preface, Ray writes that the plates, despite some difficulties in communication between himself and the engravers, "are the best and truest, that is, most like the live Birds, of any hitherto engraven in Brass." Isaac Newton called this work the "foundation of scientific ornithology." 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. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

3 parts in one volume. Folio. (14 x 8 3/4 inches). Title printed in red & black. 80 engraved plates (2 unnumbered, plus plates numbered 1-78), 2 letterpress tables. Eighteenth century russia, covers tooled in gilt, spine gilt with raised bands, marbled endpapers and edges. Provenance: Earls of Abingdon (armorial bookplate); unidentified armorial stamp on the covers and spine; William Wordie (booklabel) First edition in English of "one of the most important treatises on ornithology of all time, being the first systematic classification of the birds of the world" (Wood): a tall copy with provenance to the Earls of Abingdon. John Ray and his pupil and friend Francis Willughby toured Europe gathering material for their planned complete classification of the vegetable and animal kingdoms. After Willughby's early death in 1672 Ray took over his notes, and having edited the incomplete manuscript and added his own observations published his friend's work in 1676 as Francisci Willughbeii ornithologiae libri tres; totum opus recognovit, digressit, supplevit Joannes Raius. The present work, a translation by Ray, was published two years later and includes three more plates than the Latin edition, and an expanded text including three additional sections by Ray on fowling, falconry and song-birds. Anker 532; BM (NH) V, p.2331; Keynes Ray 39; Nissen IVB 991; Wood p.629; Wing W-2879; Zimmer 677.

Folio (14 2/8 x 9 4/8 inches). Publisher's engraved vignette on title-page. Additional engraved title-page by Paul van Somer, 187 fine engraved plates by Richard Hunt, including 14 with letterpress captions laid-down as issued, engraved vignette head-pieces and initials (some minor worming, not affecting the images). Contemporary speckled calf, the spine in 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, morocco lettering-piece in one, the others decorated with small gilt tools (joints cracked, extremities a bit scuffed). Provenance: early annotations to captions; 19th-century printed paper lot number (355) at the foot of the spine. Second edition, a re-issue of the sheets of the 1686 first edition with the 'Index Piscium' added at the end, and printed identification slips pasted onto some of the plates. This copy retains the original 1686 title-page, more usually replaced by one dated 1743. Willughby met John Ray, his lecturer at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1653, they became lifelong friends collaborators in a number of natural history projects, including a plan ". to reduce the several Tribes of Things to a Method; and to give accurate Descriptions of the several Species, from a strict View of them. And forasmuch as Mr. Willughby's Genius lay chiefly to animals, therefore he undertook the Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and Insects, as Mr. Ray did the Vegetables". (Derham, Remains, 48). Sadly Willughby died in 1672, and Ray undertook to publish what he could of Willughby's incomplete history of animals. The "Ornithology" was published first in 1676, followed by this the "Historia Piscium" in 1786. Financed by the Royal Society, with assistance from John Fell, bishop of Oxford , the Society's celebrated President, Samuel Pepys, underwrote 79 of the engraved plates, and other Society members sponsored the remaining plates. Despite its importance and sumptuous production, the work was slow to sell. Royal Society members therefore received part of their salaries in copies of the book, and the Society authorised this re-issue in 1740 (published in 1743). The "History of insects" was the last of Willughby's works to be published, although Ray did not live to see this project through. It was published in 1710 as "Historia insectorum" on behalf of the Royal Society, edited by William Derham. Keynes, Ray 46-47; Nissen ZBI 4417 (calling for 188 plates); Wing W-2879.