The Avicultural magazine. Being the journal of the Avicultural Society for the study of foreign and British birds.

London: The Avicultural Society, 1894-1994.
Octavo, 95 volumes, numerous coloured plates (many handcoloured). A very good set in mixed bindings (binder's cloth and half morocco), the signature of E. Hopkinson on the pastedown of volume one and his ownership stamp in subsequent volumes, very scarce.

The Avicultural magazine was the first journal devoted to cage-birds and, along with Bird notes which it absorbed in 1926, is the finest avicultural journal ever published. All the great names of twentieth century aviculture are represented, such as Jean Delacour who was a prolific contributor to the journal throughout his long life. The illustrations in the early volumes are of a very high standard and it was as late as volume 49 that the use of chromolithography for the colour plates ceased. There is a large body of literature on Australian birds, particularly parrots and finches. This is very much in evidence in the volumes edited by David Seth-Smith (from 1901 to1934) who made a number of collecting trips to Australia at the turn of the twentieth century in his capacity as Curator of Birds at London Zoo.

Wood gives an excellent collation up to 1921. "This magazine is a scientific periodical of the greatest value not only to students of avian domestication but to ornithologists in general. It is well written (by numerous naturalists of note) and well edited by ornithologists of international repute. The illustrations, both black and coloured, are of the best..." (Wood).

PROVENANCE: Emilius Hopkinson was an early vice-president of the Avicultural Society and the author of Records of birds bred in captivity, 1926.

Wood p. 213.