The Wryneck: Likely to be lively interest when Whitaker's "sumptuous" two-volume The Birds of Tunisia goes under the hammer

Thursday, 2 April 2026

Likely to be lively interest when Whitaker's "sumptuous" two-volume The Birds of Tunisia goes under the hammer

Black-eared Wheatear - an illustration from one of the volumes

ONLY 250 copies of J.L.S. Whitaker's pioneering The Birds of Tunisia were printed when it was published in two volumes in 1905.

There should, therefore, be lively interest when a set goes up for auction at the Cirencester (Gloucestershire) saleroom of Dominic Winter next Wednesday April 8.

This is how the work was reviewed in The Ibis journal at the time:

"This sumptuous work in two royal octavo volumes, with numerous coloured plates, is a beautiful example of bookmaking, and the contents are worthy of the setting.

"The number of species treated is about 365 of which 150 are permanently resident, 90 are summer migrants, 90 are winter migrants and 35 are of occasional or accidental occurrence.

"Most of the information is first-hand, and the result of personal observation during the various journeys Whitaker made made in the regency, but in some cases he has had to rely on the information supplied me by others, foremost among whom were Mr. O. V. Aplin of Bloxham, Oxfordshire , between the months of January and June, 1895, and M. Blanc of Tunis.

"The author’s expeditions in Tunisia extended over a period of about ten years, and he speaks of the country as unrivalled in climate during a large part of the year, and as delightful to visit for sport and natural history investigations.

"The scenery and climatic conditions are varied, richly wooded mountains and valleys, with fertile plains relieved by lakes and rivers, characterising the northern districts, while the central

region consists of undulating park-like country, broken by lower hills, giving place further south to vast semi-desert prairie-like plains.

"The author has evidently pre pared this work because he felt that he had something useful to say and for this reason it will meet with a hearty welcome."

The pre-sale estimate is that the hammer will fall at somewhere between £200 and £300.