Forshaw, Joseph M. (author) & Cooper, William T. (illustrator). 1983-1994. Kingfishers and Related Birds. Parts I-III; Volumes I-VI. Lansdowne Editions: Sydney/Melbourne.

Complete set of Forshaw & Cooper's "Kingfishers and Related Birds". Consisting of six volumes in three parts, this incredible series was written by Joseph M. Forshaw and beautifully illustrated by William T. Cooper. Each volume is numbered and signed by the author and artist on the limitation page. Originally planned as an edition of 1,000 numbered sets. Part II and particularly Part III of this work are very difficult to find as many of the text blocks of Part III were never bound (I have seen dealers estimates of fewer than 150 sets produced, while other collectors have estimated possibly fewer than 70), and complete, matching sets are difficult to come by. Of those copies of Part III, a few of their solander boxes were shipped out from the publisher with misprinted spine labels, listing the family name Alcedinidae rather than Bucerotidae.

Large/Royal folios (20.5" x 14.5" each). Each bound with original half cloth, half leather. Spine gilt and with raised bands. PART I: Alcedinidae (Kingfishers). Volume 1: Ceryle to Cittura (includes the fish-eating and specialist kingfishers). Volume 2: Halcyon to Tanysiptera (includes woodland kingfishers and the beautiful racket-tailed or paradise kingfishers). PART II: Todidae to Phoeniculidae (Todies to Wood Hoopoes): Volume 3: Todidae to Meropidae (includes the todies, motmots and bee-eaters). Volume 4: Leptosomatidae to Phoeniculidae (includes the cuckoo roller, rollers, hoopoes and wood hoopoes). PART III: Bucerotidae (Hornbills). Volume 5: Bucorvus to Anthracoceros (includes the ground hornbills). Volume 6: Buceros to Ceratogymna (includes the giant hornbills).

This is a matching set (all numbered 275) with all three solander boxes. The solander box for Part III is one of the sets with the correctly printed spine labels. This set is overall in extremely good condition without noticeable fading to solander box spines, and minimal wear and discoloration to the set. Specifically, here are some notes on the condition of each part:

• PART I: Solander box front on spine side slightly bowed inward; front of solander box with some slight discoloration/staining; one volume with a score mark to blue cloth of front cover.
• PART II: Solander box with a couple spots of slight discoloration/staining; slight wear on raised bands of the spine of both volumes.
• PART III: Solander box with a couple spots of slight discoloration/staining with one small knick on right side of boxes front plate; slight wear on raised bands of the spine of both volumes.

Please see photos for specifics on condition and depictions of the above.

This is a large and heavy set (each of the three parts is 22"x16"x4.5" & ~25 lbs), so shipping may be costly. Happy to provide additional details and photos on this set!