Genera Avium (2 Volume Set)

26 parts dated from 30th April 1903 - 16th June 1914 bound up as 2 volumes. 4tos, Vol I (Parts 1-15 with 27 hand-finished chromolithographic plates) with articles on Passeres, Picariae, Psittaci and Steganopodes by Ernst Hartert, P. Wytsman, T. Salvadori, P.L. Sclater, Alphonse Dubois, C.E. Hellmayr and Carl Parrot. Vol 2 - (Parts 16-26 with 16 hand-finished chromolithographic plates) with articles on Grues, Apteryges, Passeres and Casuarii by L. Brasil, C.E. Hellmayr et al. Both volumes bound in red buckram with gilt titles to spine in very good condition with a little bubbling to cloth and to Vol I spine has lifted from text block but holding well. Inside Vol I all pages and plates in very good+ clean and bright condition with a little toning. Inside Vol 2 all 26 original wrappers are bound in to rear, there is some old water damage to this volume resulting in a little foxing to a few of the plates and a little damage to borders. However still a nice overall set of this impressive work directed by the Belgian ornithologist and entomologist Wytsman and produced in collaboration with the main European specialists of the time. This set sometimes calls for 44 plates however the work is complete with 43 as the wrapper for the fourth part Nestoridae mentions two plates but the text itself describes only one. Scarce.…