BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA: THE SASOL PLATES COLLECTION. Text by Warwick Tarboton. Illustrated by Peter Hayman and Norman Arlott.

1994 1st edition. Large 4to (226 x 333mm). Pp432. Colour ident paintings of birds throughout, bibliography, decorative end-paper. Blue cloth, spine and upper board titled in gilt. Issued with slip case.

"Commissioned as the artwork for the field guide, Sasol Birds of Southern Africa, the illustrations produced were of such a high standard and so widely admired, that it was decided to reproduce them at their original size to display them to full advantage." The book contains more than 4000 images of over 900 species, with pictures of birds in flight being particularly well represented. The accompanying text, 'informative without being technical', deals with birds from many perspectives: behavioural, historical, biological and environmental, not intended as a field guide but to enlighten and broaden the depth of knowledge of the interested bird lover.