SCLATER, Philip Lutley (1829-1913) and Osbert SALVIN (1835-1898) - photo 1
SCLATER, Philip Lutley (1829-1913) and Osbert SALVIN (1835-1898) - photo 2
SCLATER, Philip Lutley (1829-1913) and Osbert SALVIN (1835-1898) - photo 3
SCLATER, Philip Lutley (1829-1913) and Osbert SALVIN (1835-1898) - photo 4

SCLATER, Philip Lutley (1829-1913) and Osbert SALVIN (1835-1898)

Lot 92
10.12.2025 12:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1514411
Lot 92 | SCLATER, Philip Lutley (1829-1913) and Osbert SALVIN (1835-1898)
Estimate value
£ 4 000 – 5 000
SCLATER, Philip Lutley (1829-1913) and Osbert SALVIN (1835-1898)
Exotic ornithology, containing figures and descriptions of new or rare species of American birds. London: Bernard Quaritch, [1866]-1869.
First and only edition of this important work on American avifauna: ‘a monument of erudition, industry and artistic excellence’ (Coues). This outstanding work depicts 104 species of Central and South American birds belonging to fifty-one different genera. The plates are the first executed by Smit after moving, at the instigation of Sclater, from Holland to England, and they are among the finest he ever produced. The preface states that the original intention of the work was to continue the series of illustrations contained in the ‘Planches Enluminées’ of Buffon and Daubenton, the ‘Planches Coloriées’ of Temminck, and the ‘Iconographie Ornithologique’ of Des Murs, but decided to concentrate on the birds in the Neotropical Region of America, i.e. south of the United States of America: ‘No other part of the world can vie with Tropical America in the richness of its Avifauna’ (preface, p.iii). Anker 450 (‘beautiful plates’); Coues 2:286; Fine Bird Books (1990) p.139; Nissen IVB 844; Wood, p. 558; Zimmer, p. 560.

Quarto (362 x 276mm). 100 hand-coloured lithographic plates by Joseph Smit (occasional light scattered spotting mainly confined to a few text leaves). Contemporary red half morocco by Morrell, spine richly gilt, top edge gilt, others uncut (extremities faintly rubbed, corners lightly bruised).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.12.2025 – 10.12.2025
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
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