LATHAM, John (1740-1837) - A General History of British Birds. Winchester: Jacob and Johnson for the Author ...

LATHAM, John (1740-1837) - A General History of British Birds. Winchester: Jacob and Johnson for the Author, 1821-1828. First edition of this considerably expanded version of Latham's General Synopsis of Birds, including the information from the two supplements, and the information discovered since the original publication. Latham "described several hundred birds for the first time and named nearly two hundred new forms. Most of these came from Australia from where many animals were brought to England after the country had been settled in 1788" (Anker). 11 volumes (including index), 4to (269 x 212mm). 193 hand-coloured etched plates, by and after Latham, numbered 1-184, including 67 bis, 85 bis, 87 bis, 98 bis, 104 bis, 104 bis*, 107 bis, 112 bis and 124 bis (directions for plates in vol.V, title in vol.IX and margin of plate 61 with repaired tear, offsetting from and onto some plates, some leaves and plates spotted, occasional very light waterstaining, lightly browned). Modern calf, cloth lettering-pieces, partly uncut and partly unopened. Provenance: Royal College of Surgeons of England (timbro di vendita) - Vittorio Arioli (exlibris).