Description

Title: Manual of British Birds
Author/Publisher: Howard Saunders; Saunders Gurney and Jackson
Publication Year: 1927
Format: Signed, Inscribed and Illustrated Hardcover with Ex Libris

Gurney and Jackson. 1927. Third edition, revised and enlarged.

Bookplate of Hubert Whittell. Hubert Massey Whittell OBE (24 March 1883 – 7 February 1954) was a British army officer, and later an Australian farmer and ornithologist who compiled a history and bibliography of ornithology in Australia from its origins until the mid-20th century.

Whittell settled with his family at Bridgetown, Western Australia, 270 kilometres (170 mi) south of Perth, where he bought an orchard and a dairy farm which he managed successfully, becoming a prosperous member of the local farming community. By 1929 he had revived a lifelong interest in birds and was ornithologically active, joining the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU) that year. He started building up a bird egg and skin collection, as well as establishing an ornithological library. He also made several collecting trips in the south-west and south-east of Western Australia.

In 1939 Whittell became Convener of the RAOU's Checklist Committee, serving also as President of the Union 1941–1943. A keen conservationist, from 1946 he served on the State Fauna Protection Advisory Committee. In 1943 he began a collaboration with Dominic Serventy on a regional handbook, the Birds of Western Australia, the first edition of which was published in 1948. From the mid-1930s he had been working on a comprehensive history and bibliography of Australian ornithology, The Literature of Australian Birds, a monumental 900-page volume published in 1954 not long after his death.

Synopsis

A foundational work in British ornithology, Howard Saunders's 'Manual of British Birds' served for decades as an essential reference for naturalists and bird enthusiasts alike. This meticulously researched non-fiction volume presents a comprehensive overview of avian species found across the British Isles, characteristic of the detailed natural history studies prevalent in the early 20th century.

This particular copy is the third edition, thoroughly revised and enlarged, published in 1927. It holds exceptional significance due to its authorial inscription and signature, a direct personal touch from Howard Saunders himself. Further enhancing its provenance, the volume bears the distinctive ex-libris of Hubert Massey Whittell, a notable British army officer and later an influential Australian ornithologist, whose history and bibliography of Australian ornithology remain crucial to the field.

• A Comprehensive Ornithological Reference: As a 'manual', this work provides detailed accounts of British bird species, covering their identification, habits, and distribution. It was designed to be an indispensable guide for both amateur and professional ornithologists.
• Authorial Inscription and Signature: This edition is personally signed and inscribed by Howard Saunders, offering a rare and valuable connection to the esteemed ornithologist who dedicated much of his life to the study of birds.
• Distinguished Provenance: The presence of Hubert Whittell's bookplate adds a layer of historical and ornithological significance. Whittell's later contributions to Australian ornithology make this copy particularly resonant for collectors with an interest in the broader history of the discipline.
• Richly Illustrated Content: Befitting a detailed ornithological guide, the volume is enhanced with illustrations, which would have been crucial for species identification and adding visual depth to the scientific descriptions.

This signed, inscribed, and illustrated third edition of Saunders's 'Manual of British Birds', with its distinguished provenance, represents a truly significant acquisition for any serious collector of natural history, ornithology, or rare signed editions.

Condition

This item has been professionally inspected and is in Acceptable condition. Please refer to the photographs for detailed visual assessment.

Specifications