A charming mixed set of six vintage ornithology and bird reference books, spanning mid-20th century to later field guides, with a strong emphasis on illustrated identification and aviculture. The group includes both practical field guides and decorative illustrated volumes, making it equally suitable for collectors, bird enthusiasts or interior styling.

Illustrations are a key feature throughout, including colour plates, line drawings, distribution maps and photographic plates depending on the volume. The Soderberg books, in particular, include decorative colour plates typical of mid-century natural history publishing.

The set comprises:

1. Audubon Bird Guide: Eastern Land Birds by Richard H. Pough (Doubleday & Company, New York, 1946). A compact field guide with 48 colour plates by Don Eckelberry. First edition in original flexible binding with gilt decoration and illustrated endpapers showing North America's biomes. Very good condition.

2. The Flamingos of the Camargue by Étienne Gallet (Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1950). first edition illus. with 53 monochrome photographic plates by the Author. Beige cloth with red lettering to front board. Very good condition, although missing its original dust jacket.

3. Foreign Birds for Cage and Aviary: Waxbills, Weavers, Whydahs by P. M. Soderberg (Cassell & Co. Ltd, London, 1956). First edition illustrated with black-and-white drawings and 8 superb colour plates by Sheila Dorrell. Blue cloth hardback in original pictorial dust jacket.

4. Foreign Birds for Cage and Aviary: Buntings, Cardinals, Lovebirds, Mannikins by P. M. Soderberg (Cassell & Co. Ltd, London, 1956). First edition illustrated with black-and-white drawings and 9 superb colour plates by Sheila Dorrell. Vintage paperback in original pictorial dust jacket.

5. A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa by O. P. M. Prozesky (Collins, London, 1970). A comprehensive regional guide illustrated with 32 colour and 8 black-and-white plates by Dick Findlay. First edition in orange cloth binding protected by original pictorial jacket - now in removable clear plastic sleeve.

6. The Mitchell Beazley Birdwatcher’s Pocket Guide by Peter Hayman (RSPB, 1989). A compact identification guide with colour illustrations and distribution diagrams. In pictorial hardcovers with matching dust jacket.

Bindings vary across the set and include original cloth boards, pictorial dust jackets and flexible covers. The Audubon guide is in a distinctive dark flexible binding with gilt bird motif, the Soderberg titles retain their illustrated dust jackets with visible age toning and wear, the Flamingos volume is bound in coarse weave cloth boards with printed title to upper board, and the remaining guides are in publisher’s laminated or cloth bindings.

In overall very good vintage condition, with light signs of age and use throughout, including rubbing to edges, toning to paper, some wear to dust jackets and previous owners’ signatures to endpapers. Bindings remain sound. Pages are clean and complete, with no markings or annotations.