British Birds; A Naturalists Sketch Book; British Mammals; Game Birds and Wild Fowl of Great Britain and Ireland,

Bound by Sangroski & Sutflcliffe. A fine collection of limited edition titles by the acclaimed artist Archibald Thorburn F.Z.S (1860-1935), a Scottish artist renowned for his accurate sketches set against dramatic backgrounds.

It was perhaps from his father (the miniaturist Robert Thorburn A.R.A.), that Archibald Thorburn acquired the ability to create his minutely detailed paintings and he sketched from a very early age. He painted birds, animals and flowers but specialised in the study of game birds. Thorburn first exhibited at the Royal Academy at the age of 20, and was a regular figure there throughout the 1880s and 1890s. Latterly he became disillusioned with the Academy and exhibited instead at Baird Carter, in Jermyn Street. He was also sufficiently highly-regarded by his contemporaries to have been asked to paint Queen Victoria on three separate occasions.

Limited editions; 8 vols, large 4to (400 x 330 mm) 'British Birds': 4 vols, number 63 of 105, 82 plates (including the rare supplement containing 2 extra plates numbered 80a & 80b, bound in to the rear of vol. IV; 'A Naturalist's Sketch Book', number 66 of 105, 24 colour & 36 collotype plates; 'British Mammals', 2 vols, number 146 of 155, 50 colour plates, text vignettes; 'Game Birds and Wild Fowl of Great Britain and Ireland', number 85 of 155, 30 colour plates (all mounted on card) captioned & numbered, with tissues, with a letter from Sangorski & Sutcliffe re binding loosely inserted, slight spotting to a couple of title-pages; uniformly bound in contemporary red half morocco gilt with raised bands, spines lettered & dated in gilt, top edge gilt, 'Game Birds' vol. slightly faded on upper board; overall an excellent set.