Ornithologiae libri tres: in quibus aves omnes hactenus cognitae in methodum naturis suis convenientem redactae accurate describuntu.. by WILLUGHBY (Francis) & RAY (John)

London: John Martyn, 1676. First edition, folio (355 x 230 mm), [12], 307, [5]pp., with the preliminary imprimatur leaf, title printed in red and black with engraved Royal Society coat-of-arms, 77 engraved plates, 2 folding letterpress tables, small stain with tiny hole to plate LXXV (within plate but not affecting image), front endpapers a little creased with marginal browning from turn-ins, cont. full calf, a little worn, upper joint split, green morocco spine label, an excellent clean copy with plates nice and bright. "The cornerstone of modern systematic ornithology, being the first book on the classification of birds without respect to geographical boundaries. The manuscript was left in a imperfect state by Willughby at his death and was arranged and completed by Ray. The work contains descriptions of all the birds known to the authors or adjudged by them to be sufficiently authenticated by the published accounts of others. It is divided into three parts, the first of which treats of birds in general, the second of land birds, and the third of water birds."—Zimmer. Provenance: Armorial bookplate of John Gordon. Nissen IVB 991; Zimmer, p.676; Anker, 532; Mullens & Swann, p.651; Wood, p.629; Keynes, 39.