Winter 2026: Fine Bird Books from the Collection of Russel Friedman

Welcome to the preview of our Winter 2026 min-catalogue: Fine Bird Books From the Collection of Russel Friedman. We are pleased to offer select individuals and institutional clients an opportunity to view these items before making them available to the wider public.

If you wish, you may purchase any of the items directly from our online shop. Note that due to their weight, size and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, shipping rates and times may need to be adjusted after purchase. To avoid this, please select the option to collect rather than have the items delivered to you.

If you wish to register interest pending authorisation please send a brief email to ray@rayvanwykrarebooks.com or fill in the enquiry form at the bottom of each catalogue entry.

Captain George Ernest Shelley's first book on birds

Handbook of the Birds of Egypt

With coloured plates by J.G. Keulemans
Anglo-Egyptian and Anglo-Boer War provenance

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the most splendid book on the sun-birds ever produced

A Monograph of the Nectariniidae

A finely bound presentation copy of Shelley's sublime ode to the
Sun-Birds.
Illustrated by J.G. Keulemans with 121 hand coloured plates.

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PLOVERS, SANDPIPERS, SNIPES,AND THEIR ALLIES

The Geographical Distribution of the Family Charadriidae

A meticulous work by a meticulous and prolific ornithologist, illustarted by J.G. Keulemans.

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the quiet glory of the swallows

A Monograph of the Hirundinidae

A comprehensive work by one of the most prolific 19th century ornithologists, depicting 103 species on hand coloured plates by Claude W. Wyatt. Scottish noble provenance.

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a standard early 20th century work

A Monograph of the Birds of Prey

Attractively bound and generously illustrated by H. Gronvold. A standard refrence work on the subject.

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a remarkable collection of eggs

Ootheca Wolleyana

A scarce work by one of the great unsung heroes of ornithological research into the life and death of the Greak Auk.

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A naturalist inspired

A Monograph of the Pittidae

A near fine, first edition copy D.G. Giraud's masterwork of illustration - the scarcest of his monographs.

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