Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach

Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach (1793-1879)
[Die Vollständigste Naturgeschichte der Vögel des In- und Auslandes]. -- A collection of ten albums containing about 940 mounted ornithological illustrations, including 771 original watercolours and drawings on 640 sheets, [c. 1845-1862]. 10 volumes, 4° (325 x 250mm.), sheet size of the illustrations 288 x 225mm. and smaller, numerous mounted original watercolours, many heightened with gum arabic, pencil, or pencil and wash original drawings, engravings, most hand-coloured, numerous sheets of Reichenbach's manuscript working notes, some with thumbnail sketches. Late-19th century ?English green morocco-backed marbled boards, spines in six compartments with raised bands, the second with gilt lettered general title 'Reichenbach Original Drawings', the fourth with the individual album title 'Corvinae' [etc.]. Provenance: Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach.
A significant part of an important ornithological archive, including a large collection of original drawings by one of the great figures of 19th-century natural history. It is a rare survival from Reichenbach's working library, part of an essential reference tool as well as the basis for his greatest ornithological work Die Vollständigste Naturgeschichte der Vögel des In- und Auslandes.
The bird familes represented are as follows:
Corvinae (Crows, Magpies, Jays, etc.) with 106 sheets of watercolours and 23 drawings.
Motacillinae (Wrens, etc.) with 69 sheets of watercolours.
Fringillinae (Cardinals, Sparrows, Finches, etc.) with 39 sheets of watercolours and 2 drawings.
Motag. Sylviniae (Wagtails, etc) with 53 sheets of watercolours.
Turdinae (Thrushes, Pittas, etc.) with 77 sheets of watercolours.
Oriolus and others (Bower birds, Orioles, etc.) 105 sheets of watercolours and 1 drawing.