The Natural History of Birds 1867 Illustrated Ornithology by Thomas Rymer Jones
 
Bibliographic Details
 
Author: Thomas Rymer Jones, FRS (1810-1880)
Title: The Natural History of Birds – A Popular Introduction to Ornithology
Publisher: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK), London
Printer: Wyman and Sons, Great Queen Street, Lincoln’s-Inn Fields, London
Date: 1867
Binding: Burgundy cloth over boards, gilt lettering on spine
Pages: 576
Dimensions: Approx. 18.2 × 11.8 × 3.4 cm
Weight: Approx. 597 g
 
Description
 
An appealing Victorian ornithological work from 1867, The Natural History of Birds by Thomas Rymer Jones, F.R.S., served as an accessible and richly illustrated introduction to the study of birds for 19th-century readers. Published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK), this book combined scientific accuracy with moral and educational intent, reflecting the era’s fascination with natural theology and the wonders of creation.
 
Lavishly illustrated throughout, including an engraved title page and numerous black-and-white in-text illustrations. The volume covers avian anatomy, habits, song, and classification, in a style that bridges scientific observation and Victorian literary grace.
 
Author
 
Thomas Rymer Jones (1810-1880) was an English anatomist, zoologist, and educator. He served as the first Professor of Natural History and Comparative Anatomy at King’s College London and was a Fellow of the Royal Society. Renowned for his accessible works on zoology, including General Outline of the Animal Kingdom (1841), Jones was instrumental in popularising scientific knowledge for a general audience during the Victorian period.
 
Provenance
 
On the front pastedown appears a charming inscription in ink reading:
“Stephen Powys from his Mother, 1874.”
This suggests the book was presented as a gift within the notable Powys family, a surname associated with several 19th- and 20th-century writers, scholars, and clergymen, though further verification would be needed to confirm any direct connection.
 
A later coloured pencil inscription for “Jim Bonner” appears on a preliminary leaf, adding a trace of continued ownership history typical of well-kept Victorian household libraries.
 
Condition
 
Exterior:
 
Bound in burgundy cloth with gilt lettering on spine. The original burgundy cloth binding (spine and boards) remains intact and serviceable but shows noticeable wear, as visible in the image. The spine cloth is faded, especially in the midsection, and there is fraying and splitting at the top and bottom edges of the spine, and partial splits along the long edges the spine. The front and rear boards display rubbing and surface marking, particularly along the edges and corners. Despite the wear, the binding continues to hold firmly and remains structurally sound.
 
Interior:
 
Light tanning throughout; coloured pastedowns in good condition with some foxing to preliminaries. Small closed tear (c. 3 mm) at top of p.352, not affecting text. A light crack near the title page but pages remain firmly bound. The front free endpaper is missing, with only remnants of the leaf before p.1. All 576 pages of text are complete and present.
 
Rarity and Collectability
 
This 1867 SPCK edition is not commonly encountered complete and intact, particularly in its original binding. Many surviving copies have lost plates or sections due to age and frequent handling in educational settings. Its fine provenance, solid structure, and Victorian natural history appeal make it a valuable acquisition for collectors of ornithology, early science, or decorative 19th-century bindings.