Prideaux John Selby

Prideaux John Selby (1788-1867)
Ornithology. - A collection of printed and manuscript material by or to P.J. Selby, some relating to his 'Illustrations of British Ornithology'. Provenance: Sir William Selby Church (1837-1928, nephew of P.J. Selby).
[Including:]
1. John Prideaux Selby. Manuscript and original watercolour album on british ornithology, [no date but circa 1800], 4° (210 x 144mm). 11 leaves with 8 finished pen ink and watercolour vignette portraits of eight species of birds with explanatory text, preceeded by a 3pp. 'Introduction', some additional scribbles and sketches (?by another hand). Stitched. Inserted note 'P.J.Selby's first book of birds. The birds were drawn by him when quite a boy generally reported to be only 12 years of age'. The early enthusiasm of Selby the young ornithologist shines through 'by the time he was twelve or thirteen... [he] had composed manuscript notes of the habits of our commoner birds, illustrated with coloured drawings remarkable for the delicacy of their execution and their truthfulness to nature' (DNB).
2. William Home Lizars (1788-1859). Autograph letter signed ('Will. H. Lizars') to an unidentified correspondent, with integral address panel ('To P.J. Selby Esq.'), Edinburgh, 9 February 1826, 2pp with attached bifolium with recto blank and address on panel on verso, 4to. This is in effect an informal contract, with Lizars laying out what he sees as being his duties as publisher of 'British Ornithology'.
3.[John Prideaux Selby. Temporary text to Plates to Selby's Illustrations of British Ornithology. No place but Edinburgh: no date but 1821-circa 1831]. 9 parts only (of 19), 4° (267 x 215mm). Original blue sugar-paper wrappers. Provenance: Prideaux John Selby (manuscript contents lists on upper covers of most parts). The author's copies of the very rare temporary concise text sent out with the plates but designed to be discarded once the extended text was published.
With seven other related items, including three of Selby's manuscript note-books including ornithological observations, and four ornithological manuscript notes by Selby.