3 volumes, 8vo. 223 hand-color plates; publisher's notice tipped-in to contents leaf in vol.1. (Some spotting to preliminaries.) Original deluxe olive morocco gilt, central device on covers depicting a nest with eggs, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettering in 2, others extra gilt, all edges gilt, stamp-signed by Hayday (light rubbing to extremities, rear joint splitting on vol.3, spines evenly toned). Provenance: Charles Smith Hannington (bookplate); Dennis F. Ward (bookplate).

FIRST EDITION. According to Mullens and Swann "The early editions of this work are far superior in colouring to modern copies". Fine Bird Books, p.125; Mullens & Swann p.417); Wood 472; Zimmer p.443.