Complete set of 4 series in the original publisher's Arts Nouveau inspired covers. Illustrated with 160 colour plates (40 per Vol) by Thorburn, Kearton; more like finished paintings than prints. Several black and white in-text drawings. Illustrated capital letter to each chapter head. The set include some rarer species such as the Redstart, Capercaillie, Pipit, Dunlin etc. Also for each bird at the end of the section is a further drawing as an end-piece, hence each bird has three types of illustration. The fourth volume contains a section entitled "Eggs and Egg-Collecting" by R. Kearton, plus Classified and General Indices to all four volumes. Published by Cassell and Company Limited, London, 1901. Publisher’s original dark blue cloth, lettered and decorated turquoise and gilt in an art nouveau style. Book Dimensions: 20 x 14 and Number of Pages: 160, 160, 160, 160 + 16 pages of Classified Index and General Index Condition External covers are in nice shape, with light wear to boards’ corners, and minor rubbing to head and tail of spines. Internally; the books in good condition. No names or inscriptions. Some open tear to the left margin of the first plate of volume 4, and some closed tears to the margin of some pages, but text is not affected. Pages are clean with some foxing to pages and page edges. These books have clearly been much loved. And could be also a valuable addition to a bird lovers' (Please see pictures).