Salim Ali — The Birds of Kutch

Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1945. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of a beautifully illustrated systematic survey of the Kutch region in India, lying on the fringe of a major migratory stream. The first edition of The Birds of Kutch, an illustrated ornithological study of Kutch state in India, written by prolific Indian ornithologist Salim Ali. In the publisher's original cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Contains all twenty colour plates and all fifteen photographic plates by D. Violet Cowen. Collated complete. Lying on the eastern fringe of a stream of migration between Central and Northern Asia, Kutch is special for its diversity of bird life, with species travelling from the Europe and the Middle East as well as Asia. Guiding us through this region, Ali was the first Indian to conduct systematic bird surveys and was a leading figure behind the internationally renowned Bombay Natural History Society. In the publisher's original cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, slight spotting to boards and spine, with mild bumping to the head and tail, and to the extremities. Dust wrapper is mostly bright and clean, with slight sunning to spine and edges, with the odd spot to rear wrapper extremities and flyleaf joints. Slight nicking to edges, and a couple of minor chips to wrapper head of spine and top extremity. Slight spotting to end papers, with minor cockling and creasing. Internally, mostly firmly bound, with slight wear to hinge between pp.144-145. Minor cockling to pages. Pages are mostly bright and clean with minor age toning. Good . Ill.: D.V. Cowen. Good/Very Good.