The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Birds by J. Hanzák

The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Birds (Large Illustrated Bird Reference in Dust Jacket)

A Richly Illustrated Survey of the World's Birds by the Czech Ornithologist Jan Hanzák

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Birds
• Author: J. Hanzák
• Editor: Bruce Campbell
• Publisher: Paul Hamlyn, London · New York · Sydney · Toronto
• Publication Date: 1972
• ISBN-10: 0600030784
• Edition Details: Reprinted 1970, 1972. Edited by Bruce Campbell.
• Binding: Publisher's tan cloth boards, gilt-lettered on the front board, with a photographic dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Large, heavy octavo-size volume, illustrated throughout with more than 1,000 black-and-white and colour photographs.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good (VG)
• Exterior / Boards: The tan cloth boards are clean, with square corners, gilt title to the front board and no obvious marks. The spine cloth appears intact. The text block edges are slightly toned, with a few small dark marks along the fore-edge.
• Interior: The pages are clean, with black-and-white photographs and text, and the binding feels tight. The endpapers are cream and clean. A small turned corner or tab is visible at the fore-edge of one page near the back of the sampled section, and the spread at page 106 appears slightly uneven. No foxing, writing or markings seen.
• The Dust Jacket: Present. The dark photographic jacket shows light surface scuffing and fine scratches or rubbing, mainly on the lower half and along the spine edge. The flap is clean. The jacket is protected in a durable archival-type plastic cover.

Synopsis & Historical Value

The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Birds is a large illustrated reference to the birds of the world, written by the Czech ornithologist Jan Hanzák and edited for English readers by Bruce Campbell. This Paul Hamlyn volume, published in London, New York, Sydney and Toronto, is a reprint dated 1972.

The book describes nearly 750 species representing every major group of birds, taking in wild, exotic and domesticated birds alike. The species accounts cover appearance, range, nesting and diet, and are accompanied by over a thousand photographs and a series of full-colour plates.

A generously illustrated, mid-century general work of this kind appeals to birdwatchers, natural history readers and collectors of illustrated Hamlyn reference books. This copy is complete in its original photographic jacket.

Author Profile: Jan Hanzák

Jan Hanzák (1923 onwards) was born in Prague and, after studying at the natural sciences faculty there, joined the zoology department of the National Museum in 1946, where he remained throughout his career. He is remembered as a prominent Czech ornithologist and zoologist, long-serving secretary and deputy chair of the Czech Ornithological Society, and was known internationally.

His other works include the seven-volume Světem zvířat series, first issued in 1965, and, with Jiří Formanek, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds.