Antiquarian and collectable British bird books (2 Viewers)

[Nicola Main]

I've started collecting British bird books (pre 1980s) and just wondered what everyone else has out of interest.

 

[Telephoto Paul]

I don't currently have anything pre 1980 (an 1982 copy of Mike Tomkies Golden Eagle Years is the closest I come.). However at some point I'd like to pick up a copy of 'Wildlife at Home: how to study and photograph it" by the Kearton brothers to marvel at how far nature photography has come since 1898.

https://archive.org/details/wildlifeathomeho00keariala

I quite enjoy pages 24/25.

edit: actually my oldest is the first bird book I ever had - a 1981 reprint of the 1972 edition of The Observer's Book of Birds.

 

[Julian61]

I picked up an 1893 bird book called 'British Birds in their Haunts' by Rev. C. A. John' a few years ago. It's highly subjective, very much of its time, but delightful in its own way. The illustrations are rather wonderful too. I don't pick it up often enough!

 

[Julian61]

It's occurred to me that the book I mentioned in the last post was only one of a growing collection that's built up over many years. It is the oldest though. Other volumes include. 'The Charm of Birds' by Viscount Grey of Falloden (1927) who was also, I think, Foreign Secretary at one time.e or another. It's a beautifully written appreciation of the birding year. I've various books about eagle's in Scotland by Mike Tomkies from the 80s. One of my favourites is 'The Winter Birds' from 1976 by M.A. Ogilvie just because it is the first specialist book I bought when starting out. Most precious is my 1974 copy of 'Birds of Britain and Europe', my first field guide, very battered and still used occasionally despite being a bit dated. This is a really interesting thread to me so thank you, Nicola, for starting it. I hope others contribute as well!

 

[Tom Lawson]

I've started collecting British bird books (pre 1980s) and just wondered what everyone else has out of interest.

I hope you have a deep pocket! What you collect will very much depend on your interest in birds,whether this be scientific,nature writing and/or bird art. For me the two publications that represent the start of a serious approach to birds and birding are the Witherby 5 volume Handbook and the first edition of Peterson,Mountfort and Hollom's Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe.The Witherby in its time-late 1930's-was the standard reference work and expensive,but a nice set of the 5 volumes can now be picked up for the price of one of the Helm guides! Sadly the demise of many secondhand bookshops has made it much more difficult to view prior to purchase many of the pre 1980 gems.The annual British Birdwatching Fair is a great place to look for out of print material as almost all the specialist natural history dealers are there with some fascinating stock.
Tom Lawson.

 

[Julian61]

If you're in the area, Castleton in the Peak District certainly had and probably still has a fine we one hand bookshop which specialises in ornithology. I think I it's called Hawkridge's - plenty of interesting material there.

 

[Nicola Main]

I'm slowly adding to my library of bird books some older and others not so old. Here are the ones I have so far:

The Popular Handbook of British Birds by P.A.D Hollom (bought out of an antiquarian bookseller in Stamford 1 1/2 years ago and one of my favourites).

A Natural History of British Birds by Eric Simms.

British Birds by Kirkman and Jourdain.

Birdwatchers' Year by Batten, Sorensen and Watson.

Birds of the British Isles and their Eggs by T.A Coward.

The Oxford Book of Birds by Campbell and Watson.

British Birds Eggs and Nests by Eric Pochin.

The Complete Birdwatcher's Guide by John Gooders.

Collins British Birds by Gooders and Lambert.

Spotting British Birds by S. Vere. Benson.

In Search of Birds: Their Haunts & Habitats by Jim Flegg.

 

[Tom Lawson]

If you're in the area, Castleton in the Peak District certainly had and probably still has a fine we one hand bookshop which specialises in ornithology. I think I it's called Hawkridge's - plenty of interesting material there.

Sadly closed ?2 years ago.Scarthin Books in Cromford near Matlock,is not too far away, and has quite a good selection of secondhand natural history.
Tom Lawson.

 

[Robert Wallace]

Slightly uncomfortable to read that a number of books mentioned above I bought new, when I started birdwatching. I bought "The Popular Handbook of British Birds" by mail order from the RSPB HQ in Sandy in 1974. The "Book of British Birds" published by Drive Publications Ltd for the Readers Digest Association and the AA, was popular among a range of people with different levels of skill. The main illustrations by Raymond Harris Ching were artistic if not a little controversial. I still have copies of "Watching Birds" by James Fisher and Jim Flegg and a "Guide to Birdwatching" by R.S.R Fitter. The latter is a companion to the "Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds" by R. S.R Fitter and R.A.Richardson.One of my favorite monographs is "The Gannet" by Bryan Nelson published in the late 70s but a second edition called "The Atlantic Gannet" was published in 2002.
I first visited N. Norfolk in 1963 on a sailing holiday and have visited there annually since 1968. I am delighted to own two books by E.L.Turner, "Broadland Birds" and"Birdwatching on Scolt Head". Miss Turner was a formidable lady, she lived on a house boat on Hickling Broad and was I believe the first person to photograph a bittern in the nest. I also have acquired the three avifaunas of Yorkshire, Nelson (2 vols) 1907, Chislett 1952 and Mather 1986, the latter I bought new.
My most amusing experiencewas in 1979 when I borrowed the recently published New Naturalist title " British Tits" by Christopher Perrins. The young female assistant fell about laughing when she saw the title! I later learned that the title was deliberate, attributed to academic humour.
I must finish by mentioning "Where to Watch Birds" by John Gooders, I bought a paperback version from the RSPB and later a book club hardback edition. Many years later I picked up an original edition with the fabulous dust cover illustration showing the essential tools of birdwatching, a canvas knapsack,a draw tube telescope, porro prism 8x30s binoculars and 1" O.S. maps.

 

[Nicola Main]

Does anyone own any of C.F. Tunnicliffe's books? Either by him or illustrated by him?

 

[Robert Wallace]

I have a copy of "A Sketchbook of Birds" published around 1979 it is full of annotated illustrations. Not sure I have other books illustrated by him. He was described as the finest English bird artist since Thomas Bewick. He was also a member of the Royal Academy.

 

[RobN]

I have this book currently on eBay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332136455653?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I don't know much about it though. It was published in 1910.

 

[breydon]

Birds of the British Isles by David Bannerman illustrated by George Lodge. I have the 12 volume set. Superb. George Lodge was a brilliant bird painter. Second only I think to Thorburn not many come close to him but Basil Ede in his Birds of Town and Village 1970s classic comes close

 

[Woodcock1965]

Bird books.

It is always an interesting subject when on the subject of books, especially regarding bird books. I have a decent collection of modern titles and a lot of 1st editions, out of date and antiquarian books on birds, Mammals and Falconry titles.
I do still collect the New Naturalist titles and I have many of Desmond Nethersole Thompson's which include his classic (Crossbills), The Greenshank, The Dotterel, The Snow Bunting and his book in search of breeding birds.
Of course there are titles I've forgot to mention. I have many of the New Nats and have 2 mint copies of British Bats.
Some of the Falconry titles are rare and I have 2 copies of A Falcon in The Field. 1st edition(1966), by J.G.Mavrogordato.I have his other classic which is one of the best I've came across condition wise, A Hawk For A Bush.I also have John Lofts "A Merlin For Me".
Another good book in my opinion is the classic Leslie Brown's Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the world.
Slightly off topic, and I do apologise but another renowned Author more than worthy of a mention is 'BB' Denys Watkins Pitchford.
I'm always looking for various books to add to my growing collection. So if any members have any worthwhile titles, just drop myself a message please.

I wish everyone well and hope to hear more about the subject on books. I still like the Birds of the Western Paleartic and I have a nice set of the handbook of British birds by Witherby. Please keep them coming.

Best regards, Woodcock.

 

[Woodcock1965]

Sadly closed ?2 years ago.Scarthin Books in Cromford near Matlock,is not too far away, and has quite a good selection of secondhand natural history.
Tom Lawson.

I know Scarthin books very well and I've been literally hundreds of times over the years. I think Hawkridge books have new premises at Rowsley.
Best regards, Woodcock.