Ornithology: The History of Birds

The page contains two bookplates pasted vertically. The top bookplate is an intricate woodcut-style design for Jonathan Dwight Jr. The bottom bookplate is a printed gift label for the Smithsonian Institution Libraries from Marcia Brady Tucker.

The top bookplate features a rectangular illustration within a black border. A wreath of stylized leaves surrounds a central scene where a bird, likely a swallow or swift, flies upward. On the bird's chest rests a small open book. Below the bird, a long-stemmed pipe and a quill pen are crossed—symbols perhaps of the owner’s scholarly and personal habits. A banner at the bottom reads "HIS BOOK," and the initials "R G D" appear at the bottom left. The owner's name is printed in a separate box below the illustration.

A BIRD IN THE HAND WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH
This text appears on the pages of a tiny book within the illustration, referencing a common English proverb suggesting that it is better to hold onto something one already has than to risk losing it by trying to get something better.

Jonathan Dwight Jr. (1858–1929) was a prominent American ornithologist and physician. He served as president of the American Ornithologists' Union and amassed a massive collection of bird skins and a significant library of rare scientific texts.

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Smithsonian Institution Libraries

The bottom bookplate is a modern printed label. It features a graphic of a bird flying across a globe marked with longitude and latitude lines, symbolizing the international scope of natural history. This label identifies the volume as part of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries' collection.

Marcia Brady Tucker (1884–1976) was a noted philanthropist, conservationist, and amateur ornithologist. She was the first woman to be elected a benefactor of the American Museum of Natural History and donated her extensive and valuable collection of rare bird books to the Smithsonian.