The birds of Australia, comprising three hundred full-page illustrations with a descriptive account of the life and characteristic habits of over seven hundred species.

Melbourne: Charles Stuart & Co. 1890-1891.
Folio, 303 chromolithographic plates with accompanying text and tissue guards. Six volumes bound in three, handsome contemporary half brown morocco and red cloth with gilt lettering, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. A fine crisp set free of foxing, paper oxidation and adhesion damage, very scarce in this condition.

Gracius Joseph Broinowski (1837-1913) was born in Poland and arrived in Australia in 1857 where he jumped ship at Portland, Victoria. He became a naturalised citizen and died in Sydney in 1913. Birds of Australia is by far his best-known work and although not in the class of Gould or Mathews it is nevertheless an interesting work and an important addition to any collection of Australian ornithology. The plates at their best, such as those of the pigeons and cockatoos, are very good.

Ferguson 7458; Mengel 385; Nissen IVB 148; Nissen SVB 71; Whittell p. 78; Wood p. 262; Zimmer p. 100.