Author: SCHLEGEL, H. & WESTERMANN, G.F
Title: De Toerako's afgebeeld en beschreven.
Date: 1860
Price: GBP £ 20,000
Book Code:

De Toerako's afgebeeld en beschreven.

Amsterdam, Koninklijk Zoologisch Genootschap Natura Artis Magistra, 1860. Elephant-folio (730 x 542mm). pp. (2), 24, (2), with 17 lithographed plates, after Schlegel by P. Trap, present in two states, plain and handcoloured and heightened with gum arabic. Unbound as issued within the original printed buff wrappers, with a cloth chemise with a green morocco gilt cover label, all preserved in a green morocco box, spine gilt.

A rare copy with the plates in two states. Probably the finest Dutch large colour-plate book on birds. "An account of the Touracos (fam. Musophagidae). The general text, in Dutch, contains a description of each species with distribution, synonymy and other notes. The synopsis contains Latin diagnoses of the species. The plates are excellent and suggest the work of Wolf ..." Zimmer II, p. 555-6.

"The essential part of the work consists of the beautiful plates, executed in lithography coloured by hand (P.W.M. Trap excudit) from drawings by Schlegel, made from nature and as far as possible from life. The birds are figured in life-size, which accounts for the large format" (Anker 444). Turacos are medium sized arboreal birds endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, living in forests, woodland and savanna.
 
Fine Bird Books 105; Nissen IVB, 840.