Charles Dixon — Rural Bird Life

London, Longmans, Green, and Co. 1880. First edition. Cloth. A charming first edition of a book on the different species of birds populating the British countryside, in decorative green cloth. The first edition of Rural Bird Life, Being Essays on Ornithology with Instructions for Preserving Objects Relating to That Science, written by English ornithologist Charles Dixon. Published by Longmans, Green and Co. in 1880. In the publisher's decorative original green cloth, with a colour frontispiece by G. Pearson, four other monochrome plates, and numerous woodcut in-text illustrations. Collated complete. A charming handbook on the birds that populate the British countryside, Dixon delves into different species including the magpie, jay, and partridge among others, including both their common diets and behaviours. When reading, it can be readily seen how Dixon bears a focus towards conservation and respecting these birds as neighbours within our ecosystem. In the publisher's decorative original green cloth. Externally, smart, with the odd small mark to boards. Slight rubbing to joints, and bumping to the head and tail of the spine, and to the extremities. Signs of edgewear. Dark end papers are clean, with the odd small mark and slight wear to rear end paper hinge. Sticker with author's compliments to front free end paper. Internally, firmly bound, with minor strain to hinge between leaves pp.240-241. Pages are bright and clean with marginal age toning. Very Good . Ill.: G. Pearson. Very Good .