A Monograph of the Coraciidae, or Family of the Rollers.

FIRST EDITION, large 4to (374 x 275mm.), dedication leaf, list of plates, 27 hand-coloured lithograph plates, early red half morocco, marbled boards

A scarce monograph published in an edition of 250 copies only. This beautifully illustrated work was intended by the author as a companion to his ‘Monograph of the Meropidae’. Keulemans was the last of the great bird illustrators. “The great value of Keulemans’ work as an ornithological draughtsman lay in his sureness of design of the plate and his accuracy in portraying the birds themselves. The bird figures were carefully drawn and executed down to the last scales on the feet. The feathering was neatly delineated with the different plumes receiving sympathetic treatment, the fine soft under plumage and the large flight feathers being equally well drawn” Jackson, C.E. Bird Illustrators p. 90; Fine Bird Books, p.72; Nissen IVB 270; Zimmer, p.178