Colonel R. Meinertzhagen: 'Nicoll's Birds of Egypt', London,...

Hammer

£110

Colonel R. Meinertzhagen: 'Nicoll's Birds of Egypt', London, Hugh Rees Ltd., 1930, 1st edition, 2 volumes, portrait frontis + 38 plates (31 of which coloured, 7 photogravure) after G.E. Lodge, Roland Green and H. Gronvold + 3 folding maps as called for, large 4to (33 x 26cm), original publisher's green cloth gilt. First edition of the most systematic account on Egyptian birds. The work is based on Nicoll's manuscript with notes and description of the Egyptian avifauna. Some ninety species of birds in the paintings on ancient tombs are identified; it is noted that many species became extinct because of the disappearance of the papyrus thickets due to the aridity of the country. Michael John Nicoll (1880-1925), assistant director of the Zoological Gardens at Giza, was an outstanding naturalist. It had always been his intention to publish a detailed account of the birds of Egypt, but he died before the completion of this work. His friend Meinertzhagen (1878-1967), a British war hero and ornithologist, was approached by Nicoll's widow to complete and publish the manuscript. (2)