Books about Poultry Books

I was asked a question a little while ago, about the sources of information about poultry books and how you find out about them.  Today much information is from the internet, and people like myself spend time  scrolling through book lists and web sites trying to find titles. That’s ok but generic search for “poultry books” often leads you to hundreds of pages of junk. Often its hard to find an original of anything there are so many “instant” print on demand who have scanned a copy and  send a “facsimile” based on the idea that its rare so worth an arm and a leg. Then there are auction catalogues which often have a few poultry books listed and give some idea of what is out there and how much the sell for at open auction. Ebay is like that too, gives an idea of what is available.  But mostly, we want to know about the stuff that’s not available, that’s out there but never seen.

I have spent a fair bit of time getting bibliographies and matching what I have with the lists. But there can be traps in that too. I have a  wants ( the specialists call it disideratum  meaning desires) list, which with time is reducing.  Titles listed in a bibliography with author as Anon or title  Poultry Breeding or Poultry Breeds  when the title is “South American Poultry Breeds”,  or “John Smiths Poultry”. It takes a while to eliminate these from the lists. Its interesting too when its serials to see how “official” lists of American Poultry Standards lists at least 10 volumes that don’t exist as a result of a bibliographer assuming there is one each year. I have chased a few of those until the penny dropped. Interesting also  to hear,    "I have had a complete set of "them" for ages." " can I compare my list with yours to check mine is right?" "I dont have a list  I just know I have them all! "   I would prefer I think I have them all.

Over time I have collected a list of useful references  some not shown here, and use them to either correctly assess a volume for sale, or correctly catalogue the volume at hand, or answer a question of where did  a page or two come from.  I hope you enjoy this list and it challenges your methods of  collecting and categorizing. There are many others of limited interest.   The number at the front is an acquisition number ,. I use to keep track of either the book or the reference where it is to be found or recorded.   James Finger.  The location references  are abbreviations of other bibliographies.

 Bibliography of Bibliographies

[002846] Anon. Catalogue of Books in the Library of the National Institute of Poultry Husbandry.

Shrewsbury: Wilding and Sons, 1927. not sighted, k lists under national institute of poultry husbandry as author.

One I am still looking for help me if you have seen it please. In my wants list.

[002840] Hawks, Emma Beatrice. Bibliography of Poultry (a). Washington: Usda, 1897. Pp32. Cloth with Leather Spine Label. Very Good

This one is useful because of its age. Books in here are likely to be available to the bibliographer as many were published inside her lifetime.   Its Also one I chased for a long time because there are two poultry people of the same  time period, both initials of E.B.Hawkes, one male one female, and both Authors. Earl Bedford was a researcher who published in 1909. And an interesting side note is location found , a New Zealand Library!    Referred to as HA in my writings.

     spine shot

  Library stamp

       Title page

[000011] Jeffers, Fred, H.. A Selection of Old Poultry Books, English and American. New York: Windsor Standard, 1954. Limited/Numbered 35/100 1988. Pp26. Limp. $20.00

Jeffers was a famous Collector /Dealer in the US and  though the scope of this work is small, it is very authoritative. It also appears sometimes with Punnetts notes on Poultry books which is a great historical reference. Later reproduced by Norris Below.  Abbreviated JE

[002961] Kiddell, J, B.. Books On Cockfighting in the Book Handbook R Horrox Ed. Berkshire: Bracknell, 1951. Pp405- 412. unsighted $0.00 

In my Disteratum,  only listed in other poulty book notes.

[004826] Mcdonald, D.. Agricultural Writers From Sir Walter of Henley to Arthur Young 1200-1800. 1908.

Pp228. section on gervase markham 11 pages $0.00

Not a poultry book but included poultry and useful as a reference but hard to find

[000013] Mayhew. Catalogue of Poultry Books and Ephemera. Reading: Mayhew, 2008. Limp. Catalogue. firt duplicated List plus 2008(undated) a5 list $5.00

Sale catalogues often come up with books  from the not sighted list, so I collect them all  Abbreviated as M

[000010] Norris, John, E.. Books on Poultry and Cock Fighting. Pa: Kna Press, 1977. First Edition. Limp. Annotated  to John Dobson from John Norris 1998 plus letter  $25.00

Norriss was a well known collector and dealer  a pity he died before I had any money to buy his collection. Several editions of this Biblio  later in collaboration with Palmer NZ seen below

[005758] Palmer, John.. Bibliography of Game Cocks and Cockfighting. Christchurch: Arnold Books, 2005.  Abbreviated as PA

Fourth Ed. 290 x 210mm Pp about 50 unpaginated. Limp. Fine ISBN: 0 9583250 1 4. $50.00

A self described  government official posted to Malaya in the public service and an unashamed cockfighter. A gentleman, and a great collector.   He had the best collection of game books I have ever seen. A number of editions.

[006138] Palmer, John. Books on Poultry, a Collectors Bibliography. Christchurch: Self, 2006. 3rD. 8vo:Pp112.

Illustrated Card Wrappers Stap. INDEXED $25.00   Regular poultry compared with 5758 above.

[000101] Palmer, John and Norris John.. Bibliography of Gamecocks and Cock Fighting. Christchurch: Arnold Books, 1997. Third Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" Tall , Unpaginated. Limp. ISBN: 0 9583250 2 2. $10.00

[005758] Palmer, John.. Bibliography of Game Cocks and Cockfighting. Christchurch: Arnold Books, 2005.

Fourth Ed. 290 x 210mm Pp about 50 unpaginated. Limp. Fine ISBN: 0 9583250 1 4. $50.00

[005821] Payne, L, F, et al. List of Poultry Books (a). Manhattan Kansas: Kansas State Agricultural College, 1942. 8vo:pp83. Illustrated Wrappers. Very Good / No Jacket.

 Kansas State had a significant collection and this book documents it as at 1940. A worthwhile addition to any collector. Abbreviation K

[006298] Reliable Poultry Journal. Books and Illustrations for Poultrymen. Dayton Ohio: Reliable Poultry Journal, 1907. 220 x 145mm Pp64. Stapled Wrappers. Good first edition other eds by curtis $20.00

A useful list of editions of the books produced by RPJ. Curtis was the owner of RPJ for a while  and so his name is on many of the editions of these little books. Abbreviated  R

[002928] Curtis, G. M.. Books & Illustrations for Poultrymen . Curtis, G. M. Ed. Quiincy Ill: Reliable Poultry Journal, 1920. 8vo:pp32. Wrappers. Very Good pa lists 1907 $30.00

[002841] Richards, E.E. A List of Poultry Books in my collection .

Cedar Rapids, 1912. not sighted in original photocopy only , k lists under national institute of poultry husbandry as author. 

Very hard to find and I have still never seen an original only a photocopy. I have a number of books from his collection with his distinctive bookplate which do not appear in his list as they were published after his list. And a number which he collected after the list was printed. He also donated to major institutions.  Abbreviated as EER

[005544] Termohlen, W. D.. A Hand List of Wanted Titles. Washington D C: Self, First. 4to:pp11. Loose Sheets. Dorking Press. Good A duplicated list of titles sought by Termohlen about 1950. interesting bibliographically as to the titles which were difficult to obtain about that time. Laser copied, original preserved, copies cloth single section bound. $20.00 Termolen had a large collection, but never produced a  list. However this list gives an idea of prices offered for books which were missing from his collection, a number of which are now common. It seems at that time that they were closely held, published in smaller numbers  and  were so not available.  Abbreviated as TE

[000016] Wright, Lucille, N.. Books on Poultry Husbandry, a Checklist. Ithaca New York: James e Rice Memorial Library, 1961. First Edition. 150mm x 225mm Pp79. Limp. Fine Publication No 2 James E Rice Memorial Poultry Library Cornell University Ithaca New York.  abbreviated as W

A very useful scholarly work  from a collection  donated to the memorial library to start it off.  Reasonable often available and I do believe there was a move to reprint, but not sure if that happened.  Obviously most of the books were in the collection.

Also useful Sales Catalogues of specialist poultry suppliers and other auction houses that might have some items of interest. Anything with a poultry book list.

I hope this can point you in the right direction. Jim