SKU: 2577246315

[GOULD, John.] SHARPE, R. Bowdler. Monograph of the Paradiseidae, or Birds of Paradise, and Ptilonorhynchidae, or Bower-Birds.

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Description

[GOULD, John.] SHARPE, R. Bowdler. Monograph of the Paradiseidae, or Birds of Paradise, and Ptilonorhynchidae, or Bower-Birds.The last of the fine bird books from Sotherans vaults [GOULD, John.] SHARPE, R. Bowdler. Monograph of the Paradiseidae, or Birds of Paradise, and Ptilonorhynchidae, or Bower Birds. London: Henry Sotheran & Co. 18918. 79 uncoloured lithographic plates (560 x 390 mm) on thick paper, mostly by and after W. Hart or by Hart after J. Gould, a smaller number by Hart after J. G. Keulemans or by and after Keulemans; a full set with text leaves; a little age

The last of the fine bird books from Sotheran’s vaults

[GOULD, John.] SHARPE, R. Bowdler. Monograph of the Paradiseidae, or Birds of Paradise, and Ptilonorhynchidae, or Bower-Birds.

London: Henry Sotheran & Co. 1891–8.

79 uncoloured lithographic plates (560 x 390 mm) on thick paper, mostly by and after W. Hart or by Hart after J. Gould, a smaller number by Hart after J. G. Keulemans or by and after Keulemans; a full set with text leaves; a little age toning, otherwise near fine.

A full set, splendidly preserved, of the original unbound and uncoloured leaves from the first edition of this monumental posthumous summation of John Gould’s work on the birds-of-paradise.

The eminent ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe (1847–1909), author of the text of this monograph, had previously completed Gould’s Birds of New Guinea after his death in 1881, and later successfully rallied subscribers to bring this work to completion – what English writer Sacheverell Sitwell described as ‘the last of the fine bird books’. Sharpe best tells the story of the genesis of the work in his preface: ‘Gould, in his Birds of New Guinea, figured nearly every species known in his day, and he had intended to publish a complete Monograph of the Family, for which purpose he kept the lithographic stones from which the plates had been prepared. Thus it came to pass that when Messrs. Sotheran purchased the stock of Gould’s works after his death, they acquired the stones with which he had intended to illustrate his Monograph of the Paradiseidae. Many of them were broken or otherwise damaged, and of these some have been redrawn or replaced by new plates by Mr. Hart. Since Gould’s time, however, many marvellous new species have been discovered, and these have been described and figured in the present work’.

This copy of the complete text and plates of this magnificent work has remained uncoloured in Sotheran’s vaults since it was printed in the 1890s.

One of sixty available for sale. Each one being numbered and signed by our Chairman along with a certificate of authenticity.

Fine Bird Books 107; Nissen, IVB 865; Zimmer 581; Wood 565.

In recognition of Gould’s remarkable legacy, we will be donating from each sale to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds which will also be offering sets to its members.

£500 from the sale of each set of leaves from the first edition of [GOULD, John.] SHARPE, R. Bowdler. Monograph of the Paradiseidae, or Birds of Paradise, and Ptilonorhynchidae, or Bower-Birds will be donated to the RSPB, a registered charity in England and Wales, number 207076, and in Scotland, number SC037654.

Please note that the price of the set includes VAT, which will be removed for overseas customers. Do not hesitate to get in touch should you require any further information.

SKU: 2123641

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SKU: 2577246315

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★★★★★ 3
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★★★★★ 5
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Size: Twin, Color: White
This Amazon Basics jersey sheet set was a really good purchase. The cotton material is soft, stretchy, and breathable — it feels like sleeping in a comfortable T‑shirt. The fitted sheet has a nice snug fit that stays in place, and the flat sheet is lightweight without feeling flimsy. The fabric washes well, doesn’t pill, and stays soft after multiple loads. It’s a great everyday sheet set for anyone who likes that cozy, relaxed jersey feel. Overall, comfortable, easy to care for, and great value for the price.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2026
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As I write this, I am laying on an adjustable full sized bed by Hofish and a 10.5" comfort foam mattress by Classic Brands. I know I sound like I am an Amazon plant, but I swear I am not. I'm not even a stockholder anymore. This is the most awesome bed stylings combination I have had in many, many years. In fact, it is the best I have ever owned and it is beat only by some ritzy resort I stayed at on vacation like 20 years ago, though I admit I was pretty drunk the entire time so my memory might not be the most accurate. But getting back to today... these sheets are great. I washed them twice - I'm not a neat freak, I am just amazingly disorganized and easily distracted while doing laundry, so tonight they went though two wash cycles and one dry. And then I put them on the bed. While these sheets are not deep pocket sheets, they don't need to be with this mattress. There is enough room and border for them to tuck and wrap with the elastic to give a strong grip under the mattress, which is important as the adjustable frame continually put the sheets and mattress though its repeated adjustable calesthenics-type positioning. The other two sheet sets I have used since I got this bed have struggled poorly with this. In the day or so and at least a dozen position changes, these sheets stay in place with no popped corners to exposing the bowl as the head and feet rise. Of course, till will tell if it lasts, but so far they are the best of the batch of sheets in my closet. As for texture, they are awesome. I'm a dude. I don't really know what thread count or knit or whatever really means. But these sheets feel like a well-washed favorite, quality rock & roll concert t-shirt. And not one of these glitter puff stupid new groups, like a real rock band from the 80s that now charges $250 for a concert ticket and $60 for a t-shirt...but that group you saw back then, paid $10 for the shirt and you STILL have it and love to wear it because it is perfectly molded to your body, soft and reliable. The kind of shirt you will wear under your suit at work and just grin not just for mental middle finger to corporate dress codes, but because the t-shirt is just that great of a feeling. Well, that is what these sheets feel like. And now you get to sleep in it. It is that awesome. In LA right now we are having a nasty heat wave, but these sheets don't seem to bake me even with my stuttering AC. The flannel sheets I love seem to trigger the butt sweats as soon as I lay down in this heat, but no such problem with these. So really, I'm absolutely happy with these things. I am going to order more in other colors as soon as Amazon gets them back in stock. Great price, great quality, great comfort, great fit, great deal. It is that simple.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2017
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★★★★★ 5
Soft smooth and wrinkle free!
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Soft Material, but Color Not as Expected
Size: Queen, Color: Oatmeal, Size: Queen, Color: Oatmeal
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