ABOUT THE PUBLICATION / EDITOR / ARTIST

A History of The Birds of Europe, including all the species inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region, 1871-1896

AUTHOR: Henry E. DRESSER (1838-1915)

PUBLISHER: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W. 1871-1881.

The History of The Birds of Europe is a nine-volume ornithological book published in parts between 1871 and 1896. A total of 339 copies were made.

It was written by Henry Eeles Dresser, although Richard Bowdler Sharpe co-authored the earlier volumes and was illustrations mainly by the Dutch artist John Gerrard Keulemans

Dresser was a leading figure in ornithological circles: he was elected a Member of the British Ornithologists' Union in 1865 and served as its secretary from 1882 to 1888. He was a member and fellow of the Linnean and Zoological societies of London and an honorary fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union. Dresser knew all the leading ornithologists of his day.

He worked with Professor Alfred Newton on the development of a close time for British birds when they could not be hunted during the 1860s and 70s, an early part of the development of the bird conservation movement. He was heavily involved with the early Society for the Protection of Birds (which developed to become the RSPB).

John Keulemans was a Dutch painter and illustrator who became famous as an artist and illustrator in England in the late 19th Century. He did the illustrations for both the first and second editions of Sir Walter Lawry Buller's, A History of the Birds of New Zealand and for many other publications.