GOULD, JOHN. 1804-1881; and RICHARD BOWDLER SHARPE.


A Monograph of the Trochiliadae, or Family of Humming-Birds. London: Henry Sotheran, 1887. Folio (550 x 370 mm). Supplement volume only. 58 hand-colored lithographs heightened with gum arabic, after drawings by Gould and William Hart. With binding notice. Contemporary green crushed morocco by Sotheran, covers with gilt panels, red morocco gilt-lettered spine labels, gilt decoration to remaining compartments, gilt dentelles, green moire silk endpapers, original front wrappers for all 5 parts bound in. Spine slightly toned.Provenance: Kenneth Harrison (bookplate). FIRST EDITION. Despite Gould's longtime interest in Hummingbirds, he hadn't seen a live one until his 1857 trip to the United States. The present work, which was begun in 1849, was completed after Gould's 1881 death by Richard Bowdler Sharpe. Nissen IVB 380; Sitwell Fine Bird Books p 102; Zimmer p 263.