Beschreibung:

HAYES, William (1735-1802). [ The Portraits of British and Exotic Birds, coloured from Nature . London: n.d. but 1771-1778]. 2° (534 x 362mm). Without title or text. Engraved dedication to Elizabeth, Duchess of Northumberland, 60 hand-coloured etched plates by or after Hayes, one folding, (15 with manuscript titles, dated 1773 and signed by Hayes, 16 with pasted-on engraved title labels, 2 with engraved title and dated 1771, 7 unsigned and with no imprint, 20 with manuscript titles, dated 1778 and signed by Hayes). (Small tears to dedication, four of the labelled plates shaved with loss to the labels, one of the plates dated 1778 shaved with loss to the landscape, a second shaved with partial loss of title and signature.) Contemporary half russia (worn). A FINE SELECTION OF PLATES, including 20 of exotic birds, dated 1778. This group includes at least one plate ( Parakeet from Otaheite ) that was sketched from specimens brought back by Cook on the Resolution . Hayes is considered to have published three main works: A Natural History of British Birds (1771-1775, 2°, with 40 plates); The Portraits of British and Exotic Birds (1778 but with plates dated 1771-1790, 2°, with 79 plates, known only from the Sandwich copy [sale Sotheby's 26 April 1982 lot 178; Bonham's 23 May 1995 lot 163]) and Portraits of rare and curious birds... from the menagery at Osterley Park (1794-1799, 2 volumes, 4°, with 100 plates). This copy appears to be in a transitional state between the first two works, and to have been assembled by Hayes in 1778. It does not include the title (dated 1778), dedication to the Earl Sandwich or any of the 19 plates published between 1780 and 1790. Sold as a collection of plates, not subject to return. Cf. Nissen IVB 421-422; Zimmer pp.293-4.