Bird Books and Bird Art Frontispiece

BIRD BOOKS AND BIRD ART FRONTISPIECE

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4 BIRD BOOKS AND BIRD ART

AN OUTLINE OF THE LITERARY HISTORY AND ICONOGRAPHY OF DESCRIPTIVE ORNITHOLOGY

BASED PRINCIPALLY ON THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS CONTAINING PLATES WITH FIGURES OF BIRDS AND THEIR EGGS NOW IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AT COPENHAGEN AND INCLUDING A CATALOGUE OF THESE WORKS

WRITTEN AND COMPILED

BY yEAN ANKER

ISSUED BY THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY COPENHAGEN TO COMMEMORATE THE INAUGURATION OF' THE NEW BUILDING OF THE LIBRARY

Springer -Science+ Business Media, B. V. 1979 FRONTISPIECE

FIGURES OF DEAD BIRDS FROM ORIGINAL WATER-COLOURS BY JOHANNES LARSEN. Fig. 1. THE CORN-BuNTING. Emberiza calandra L. The water-colour dated April 17, 1907 Fig. 2. THE WHITE WAGTAIL. M otacilla alba L. (Male in first summer). The water-colour dated April 10, 1907 Figs. 3--4. THE GOLDCREST. Regulus regulus L. (Adult female). The water-colours dated April 2, 1907

With the kind permission of the publisher. BIRD BOOKS AND BIRD ART

AN OUTLINE OF THE LITERARY HISTORY AND ICONOGRAPHY OF DESCRIPTIVE ORNITHOLOGY

BASED PRINCIP ALLY ON THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS CONTAINING PLATES WITH FIGURES OF BIRDS AND THEIR EGGS NOW IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AT COPENHAGEN AND INCLUDING A CATALOGUE OF THESE WORKS

WRITTEN AND COMPILED

BY YEAN ANKER

ISSUED BY THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY COPENHAGEN TO COMMEMORATE THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEW BUILDING OF THE LIBRARY

Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V. 1938 ISBN 978-94-011-7985-0 ISBN 978-94-011-7983-6 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-011-7983-6

Originally published by Dr. W. Junk B. V. , Publishers, The Hague in 1938

SOFTCOVER REPRINT OF THE HARDCOVER lST ED1TlON 1938 *

* The b/ocks for the illustrations have been made by WENDT & ]ENSEN, Copenhagen. * The plates have been printed by 'DET BERLlNGSKE BOGTRYKKERi', Copenhagen. * The coloured plates have been produced by the four-colour process. Dedicated to the memory of

YOHAN FREDERIK CLASSEN

the great collector of books on

the natural sciences LIST OF CONTENTS. PAGES Acknowledgement. .. IX Preface ... XI-XIII Principal abbreviations used, more especially in the catalogue XV List of illustrations " XVII-XVIII

I. An outline of the literary history and iconography of descriptive ornithology 1-87 1. Pictures and records of birds up to the invention of printing and the development of the woodcut '" 3-6 2. The art of printing. Woodcuts and engravings. Belon and the encyclopedists ... 6-12 3. The progress of engraving. The first works containing ornithological plates. Information about fauna given in descriptions of countries and in travel books up to the last qu;yter of the 17th century . 13-19 4. Willughby and John Ray. The first works in which plates are prominent. Works on fauna and journeys up to the last third of the 18th century.. 19-29 5. Progress in descriptive ornithology, systematics and nomenclature. Linn

II. A catalogue of the collection of books containing plates with figures of birds and their eggs now in the University Library at Copenhagen 89-215 Bibliography... 217-228 Index of names 229-245 Geographical index 247-251 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

In the beginning of 1938 the section of the University Library devoted to natural sciences and medicine will take possession of a new, modem building. The desire to mark this great and happy event in the history of the Library suggested the issue of a publication which should convey an idea of the standard of its collections and also be of use to scientific research. It would not, however, have been possible to bring out this book if the Library had not received financial aid from 'Det Classenske Fideikommis' and from 'Rask-0rsted Fondet'. On behalf of the Library, therefore, I tender cordial thanks to the Trustees of both these institutions for the funds granted towards the pre• paration and publication of the book. Svend Dahl Librarian. PREFACE.

This is a book about books and pictures. It is divided into two parts, the first 'An outline of the literary history and iconography of descriptive ornithology' to some extent depending on the second 'A catalogue of the collection of books containing plates with figures of birds and their eggs now in the University Library at Copenhagen'. When the Chief Librarian of the University Library at Copenhagen first suggested to the writer that he should produce a book on the ornithological literature in the library, careful deliberation of the reasons for and against the proposal became necessary. Trained and educated as a biologist and as a zoologist, and interested chiefly in zoological history and biology, he had to consider closely whether he could undertake a task that, although only theoretically, involved an intimate knowledge of a special branch of zoology. That in spite of preliminary hesitation the work eventually was undertaken is due firstly to the fact that literary and bibliographic experience could largely be employed in its fulfilment; secondly, an offer of expert ornitho• logical assistance was received from Finn Salomonsen, the well-known ornithologist, who has been kind enough to identify the birds figured on the plates and to read through the manuscript of the first part of the book. The practical suggestions he thus made, and his advice, have materially assisted in the production of the work. The subject matter is more fully treated in the part of the first section of the book dealing with the period up to 1800 than in that dealing with the subsequent period; for obvious reasom this is also the case as regards the sections on Scandinavian literature and its illustrations. It is hoped, however, that the general effect of the survey of the most important works on descriptive ornithology and its illustrations presented in this part will not be spoiled by these inequalities. The accompanying catalogue contains short notes on the history and contents of the works listed in it, on the artist, or artists, responsible for the originals for the plates, and on the production of the plates themselves. The collection contains a number of valuable antique works in large format, of great interest bibliogra• phically, and much in demand, among which is John James Audubon's 'The birds of America'. As must be the case in every large library of any age, there are also individual examples of rarities such as the original edition of Thomas Pennant's 'Indian zoology', of which only a few copies are known, and the folio edition of Johann Andreas Naumann's plates; the latter is incomplete, as are the majority of the few examples now in existence. An even greater bibliographic rarity is the copy of the first volume of the text to Nau• mann's plates as it contains all the title-pages issued for this volume, thus surely being unique. Although the collection cannot compete with the more wealthy foreign libraries, that it contains so many antique works as it does is very largely due to that great patron of literature, Major-General Johan Frederik Classen (1725--92), an industrialist and a landowner whose name is especially connected with the development of the town called by him Frederiksyxrk. From comparatively modest circumstances this great man worked his way up to become one of the most important personalities of his country. Impelled hy his interest in hooks he bought ancl bought, both at home and abroad, until he had formed a library XII

so large that at his death it was valued at over 100,000 thalers and consisted of about 20,000 volumes. Although his collection was not, strictly speaking, that of a bibliophile, it gave Classen a position in the first rank of the contemporary collectors in his country in this the golden age for bibliophiles. In his will he left his whole library to the public, with funds for its development. In 1867, when the 'Classenske Bibliothek' had reached a total of about 30,000 volumes, it was broken up and the greater part of it - including, especially, the natural science section - incorporated in the University Library, which was thereby enriched with a number of valuable and important works. A great many of the large antique tomes illustrated with cop• perplates, and mentioned in the accompanying catalogue, originate from this source. The University Lib• rary still benefits from Classen's munificence, as it receives an annual sum from the 'Glassenske Fidei• kommis' founded by him, with which it purchases works on natural science, for preference on zoology. It has thus been able to increase its collection of ornithological literature. The composition of a book such as the present one necessitates assistance from many quarters. So many institutions and private persons in Denmark and abroad have been kind enough to contribute to it by supplying information of various kinds that space is not available to mention all of them. Of especial value in this respect was a visit the author and compiler was able to pay in the summer of 1936 to several German libraries. This was made possible by a donation from Dr. and Fru V. Eilschou H otm, for which most cordial thanks must here be expressed. In addition to the courtesies which have already been acknowledged, special mention must be made of Dr. Ejnar Munksgaard, the publisher of the book, who has assisted in its publication in every pO,ssible way. Thanks must also be offered to the bird-painter Johannes Larsen for contributing the original water• colours reproduced in the frontispiece; to Hr. H alger Jensen of Messrs Wendt & Jensen, process-engravers, for the contribution of the blocks for two of the coloured plates in the book; and to Hr. Jahan Olsen of ' Det Berlingske Bogtrykkeri', for the gratuitous production of four of the coloured plates. The already existing catalogues of collections of zoological literature have been of valuable assistance in the compilation of the catalogue, more especially the excellent 'Catalogue of the books, manuscripts, maps and drawings in the British Museum (Natural History)', 1903-33, J. T. Zimmer's admirable 'Ca• talogue of the Edward E. Ayer Ornithological Library', 1926, Casey A. Wood's 'Introduction to the literature of vertebrate zoology', 1931, and a number of others, each of which has in its own particular way facili• tated the work. Invaluable help in the laborious and tedious work of collation has been rendered by Frk. Elisabet Graae, and, in particular, by Fru Fritze Smith, both of the University Library, of whom the latter has been able to devote much of her time to this exacting work of precision. Various experts are responsible for the trans• lation into English. The names of the persons referred to in the text of the first part of the book are gIVen so far as pos• sible, with the Christian names or initials by which they are generally known, or which are in general use; initials are used in the catalogue. Full names and, so far as possible, dates of birth and death are shown

In the index. The catalogue does not include the books in the collection that are illustrated with photographic plates only, nor those with but few or indifferent plates. The works included in the catalogue are listed under the names of the authors, with cross-rcference~ in cases of joint authorship. When the ornithological matter in a work is not scattered, this part is listed wherever possible directly under its author. For the sake of brevity the following signs are used in the transcriptions of the titles, The insertion of -- denotes that what follows is taken from another page with a subordinate title or heading. The sIgns < > enclose headings, and aha subordinate titles in which the name of the publisher and the place XIII

of publication is not mentioned, or ill which - as compared with the title - one of these names is omitted. All titles connected with the section in question are thus included in the transcription, with the omission of any unnecessary repetition. The sign ->- after a date or after the number of a volume, or a part of a vol• ume, indicates that the set is in progress. In the description of a work the designations for volumes and parts of volumes are all gIVen III English. The name of the publisher, or printer, is taken from the title-page and printed before the name of the place of publication. When the names of more h~an one publisher or more than one place of publication ap• pear on the title-page, only the first is given. Slight alterations from volume to volume in the general title of a work comprising more than. one volume are shortly explained in parentheses. No special mention is made in the second part of this work (the catalogue) when the plates are repro• duced by the four-colour process, the expression 'three-cokur process' covering both methods of reproduction. The titles in the catalogue and in the bibliography are numbered consecutively. The figures in paren• theses refer to these numbers.

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, COPENHAGEN jean Anker January 5, 1938. Assistant Librarian. PRINCIPAL ABBREVIATIONS USED, MORE ESPECIALLY IN THE CATALOGUE.

c. (circa) ... about cap. (capitulum) chapter cf. (confer) compare col. coloured del. (delineavit, delineaverunt) drawn [by] dir., direx. (direxit, direxerunt) engraved under the supervision of cd .... edition e. g. (exempli gratia) for example exc., excud. (excudit, excu~erunt) printed [by], or engraved and printed [by] f. florins fasc ... fascicle, fascicles fe., fec. (fecit, fecerunt) made [by] fig. (figs.) figure (figures) fl. flourished fol. folio fold ... folded front .. frontispiece, frontispieces i. e. (id est) that is [to say] imp. (impressit, impresserunt, imprime, imprimerie) printed [by], printing establishment in lap. (in lapidem) on stone [by] lit. (lith.) . lithographed [by] no. (nos.) . number (numbers) numb. numbered obI. ... oblong p. (pp.) page (pages) phot. . photographic photograv .. photogravure pinx. pinxt., pxt. (pinxit, pinxerunt) painted [by] pI. plate (plates) q. v. (quod vide) which see sc., sculp. (sculpsit, sculpserunt) engraved [by] seqq. (sequentia) [and] the following ser. ... senes s. I. (sine loco) without place suppl. supplement, supplements, supplementar) text-fig. (text-figs.) text-figure (text-figures) uncal. uncoloured unnumb ... , unnumbered \'01. (vols.) volume (volumes) LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Figures of dead birds from original water-colours by Johannes Larsen Frontispiece (coloured) Fig. 1. The Corn-Bunting. Emberiza calandra L. Fig. 2. The White Wagtail. M otacilla alba L. (Male in first summer) Figs. 3-4. The Goldcrest. Regulus regulus L. (Adult female)

The Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio L., in a Sont-bush. Painting in the tomb of Chnemhetep. From a coloured plate by Howard Carter page 2

TO FACE PAGE Plate I 8 Fig. 1. Peacock and Owl. From woodcut in Conrad von Megenberg's 'Buch der Natur', 1475 Fig. 2. Swans. From woodcut in 'Hortus sanitatis', 1491 Fig. 3. 'Lagepus'. From woodcut in 'Hortus sanitatis', 1491 Fig. 4. 'Strutio'. From woodcut in 'Hortus sanitatis', 1491 Fig. 5. The Great Auk. Pinguinus impennis (L.). From engraving in 'Museum Wormianum', 1655 Fig. 6. Bird of Paradise. Paradisea apoda L. From woodcut in J. E. Nieremberg's 'Historia naturre', etc., 1635 Fig. 7. The Dodo. Raphus cucullatus L. From woodcut in J. Bontius' 'Historire naturalis & me• dicre Indire orientalis libri sex', 1658. Fig. 8. Parrot. Ara. From woodcut in G. Marcgraf's 'Historire rerum naturalium Brasilire, libri octo', etc., 1648

Plate II 12 Fig. 1. Turkeys. .M eleagris gallopauo L. From woodcut in Pierre Belon's 'L'histoire de la nature des oyseaux', 1555 Fig. 2. The Avocet. Recuruirostra auosetta L. From woodcut in Konrad Gesner's 'Historire ani• malium Iiber III. qui est de avium natura', 1555 Fig. 3. The Ruff. Philomachus pugnax (L.). (Male in breeding plumage). From woodcut in Ulisse Aldrovandi's 'Ornithologire hoc est de avibus historire libri XII', Vol. III, 1603

P I ate I I I ... 24 Fig. 1. The Bee-Eater. .Merops apiaster L. From hand-coloured engraving in J. L. Frisch's 'Vor• stellung der Vogel Deutschlandes', 1763 Fig. 2. The Hoopoe. U pU/Ja epops L. From hand-coloured engraving by George Edwards, 1753 Fig. 3. The Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata (L.). From hand-coloured engraving, drawn and en• graved by Mark Catesby, 1754

P I ate I V ... 34 Fig. 1. The Straw-crested Flycatcher. Elaenia caniceps (Sw.). From hand-coloured lithograph by W. Swainson, 1841 Fig. 2. The Bearded Manakin. M anacus manacus (L.). (Adult male). From hand-coloured litho• graph by W. Swainson, 1841 Fig. 3. The Fie1dfare. Turdus pilaris L. From woodcut by T. Bewick, 1804 XVIII

Fig. 4. The Robin. Erithacus rubecula (L.). From woodcut by T. Bewick, 1804 Fig. 5. The Puffin. Fratercula arctica (L.). (Summer plumage). From woodcut by T. Bewick, 1804 Fig. 6. The Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes cristatus (L.). From woodcut by T. Bewick, 1804

Plate V 44 Fig. 1. Pallas' Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall.). From hand-coloured engraving by J. G. Pretre, 1838 Fig. 2. The Common Pelican. Pelecanus onocrotalus L. (Adult male). From hand-coloured en• graving by Martinet

P I ate V I (coloured) ... 46 The Turtle-Dove. Streptopelia turtur (L.). From colour-printed engraving, painted by Mme Knip, 1811

P I ate V I I ( coloured) 56 Humming-birds. Threnetes ruckeri Bourc. From hand-coloured lithograph, drawn and lithographed by J. Gould and H. C. Richter, 1861

P I ate V I I I (coloured) ... 58 The Greenland Falcon. Falco rusticolus candicans Gm. From hand-coloured lithograph, drawn by Joseph Wolf, 1868

P I ate I X... 62 Fig. 1. Heuglin's Courser. Rhinoptilus cinctus (Heugl.). From hand-coloured lithograph by J. G. Keulemans, 1887 Fig. 2. The Grey Fork-tailed Petrel. Oceanodroma furcata (Gm.). Fr?m hand-coloured lithograph drawn and lithographed by J. G. Keulemans

P I ate X 74 Fig. 1. Baillon's Crake. Porzana intermedia (Herm.). From hand-coloured lithograph, drawn by H. Gronvold, lithographed by C. Cordts, 1888 Fig. 2. The Common Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus L., subsp. From four-colour print, painted by Archibald Thorburn, 1919

P I ate X I ... 78 The Black-winged Hawk [= White-tailed Kite]. Elanus leucurus (Vieill.). From aquatint, drawn by J. J. Audubon, engraved, printed and coloured by R. HaveII, 1837

P I ate X I I (coloured) 80 The Nile Helmet Shrike. Prionops concinnata SundevalI. From lithograph (offset), painted by L. A. Fuertes, 1930