- +27 82 328 2755
- [email protected]
- The Old Mushroom Farm, 11 Karkloof Rd, Howick, RSA
R0.00
What makes an old bird book worth collecting? Ornithology is one of the richest corners of natural history bookselling, and southern Africa has produced some of the most sought-after titles in the field. Collectors look for classic works like Roberts Birds of South Africa, Austin Roberts' foundational reference first published in 1940, along with Kenneth Newman's illustrated field guides, the Sasol Birds of Southern Africa series, and older colour-plate monographs whose hand-finished lithographs are prized in their own right.
This category gathers antiquarian and second-hand ornithology books held at Midlands Books in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands: regional field guides, breeding and distribution studies, atlases, and single-species monographs, from affordable reading copies to scarce first editions and finely illustrated plate books. Condition, edition, and the quality of the plates all shape value. If you have inherited a bird library or a single notable volume and want to understand what it might be worth, our guide on how to know if your old book is valuable is a useful starting point.
266 products
Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa by Elliot Pinhey is likely a detailed and comprehensive guide to the Emperor moth fauna of this part of Africa.
The Canaries, Seedeaters and Buntings - A classic 1960 first edition Southern African ornithology reference edited by C. J. Skead. Features 152 pages, 19 colour plates, 50 black-and-white illustrations and 18 distribution…
Bird - The Definitive Visual Guide - A magnificent 512-page photographic celebration of the world's birds, published by Dorling Kindersley in association with BirdLife International. Featuring over 1,000 species, spectacular wildlife photography…
Robins of Africa - An exceptional 288-page African ornithological reference featuring text by Terry Oatley and exquisite illustrations by Graeme Arnott. Includes 22 full-colour plates, numerous black-and-white illustrations and distribution maps. A…
Bird Behaviour - A beautifully illustrated 224-page ornithological reference by Robert Burton, featuring nearly 600 colour photographs. Explores bird intelligence, communication, feeding, flight, courtship, breeding and migration. An informative 1985 first edition…
Kingfishers of Sub-Saharan Africa - An exceptional 1992 first-edition ornithological monograph by renowned African bird specialist Phillip A. Clancey. Featuring 212 pages, 23 magnificent full-page colour plates, detailed species accounts and distribution…
Swaziland Bird Atlas - An important 1994 ornithological reference by Vincent Parker documenting the distribution and conservation status of Swaziland's birdlife between 1985 and 1991. Featuring extensive species accounts, detailed distribution maps…
Flying with the Birds - Featuring spectacular colour photography, innovative scientific research and extraordinary accounts of bird migration and aviation safety. Near fine 2009 second-edition hardcover with dust jacket.
The Genus Sarothrura - An important 1970 scientific monograph examining nine species of African and Madagascan flufftails, including the critically endangered White-winged Flufftail. Written by Stuart Keith, C. W. Benson and M.…
The Canaries, Seedeaters and Buntings of Southern Africa - A classic 1960 first edition Southern African ornithology reference edited by C. J. Skead. Features 152 pages, 19 colour plates, 50 black-and-white illustrations…
A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa will be invaluable to herpetologists, snake collectors, hikers, gardeners, campers and householders, or anyone who may encounter or want to know more about…
Audubon Water Bird Guide - A handsome vintage Audubon field guide covering the water, game and large land birds of eastern and central North America, with colour illustrations by Don Eckelberry and…
Warriors, Dilettantes and Businessmen is a well-regarded work by W.R.J. Dean, offering readers an engaging and thoughtful reading experience. This edition is well suited to collectors, general readers, or those seeking a…
An authoritative Oxford University Press study of bird migration by leading ornithologist Peter Berthold, covering migratory behaviour, physiology, navigation, orientation and conservation. Volume 3 in the Oxford Ornithology Series.
Birds of Africa South of the Sahara - A comprehensive 2003 African bird field guide by Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan, covering approximately 2,105 species with more than 3,000 illustrations across 359…
Anoraks to Zitting Cisticola - A witty and informative A-to-Z exploration of birdwatching by Australian birder and author Sean Dooley. An entertaining look at birds, birders, twitching culture, ornithology and the many…
Rather than attempting to function as a comprehensive field guide, Birds of Southern Africa focuses on memorable and readily recognisable birds, making it particularly appealing to birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts and anyone with…
The Birds of the Bechuanaland Protectorate - This 1964 edition will appeal to serious birdwatchers, ornithologists, natural-history collectors and anyone interested in the development of wildlife studies in Botswana and the wider…
For ornithologists, birdwatchers, conservationists, ecologists and researchers specialising in African natural history, this volume provides a valuable snapshot of Ethiopia's bird habitats and conservation priorities during the 1990s. Important Bird Areas of…
For collectors of African natural-history literature, ornithologists, birdwatchers and anyone interested in the history of bird distribution studies, Birds of East Africa offers a fascinating snapshot of East African ornithology at the…
