Biblio

The Illustrated Book of Canaries and Cage Birds; British and Foreign. Editors: Blakston, Swaysland & Wiener. Cassell, Petter & Gilpin Co. London, 1877-80. 448 pages, 56 exquisite chromo-lithograph plates including 20 canary studies by artists A.F. Lydon and Ludlow. Blakston was the canary expert of the Victorian era. This book deals with The Cinnamon, Norwich, Lizard, London Fancy, Yorkshire, Belgian, Dutch Frill, Lancashire and Scotch Fancy as they were in the 1880s, before the evolution of the Border, Gloster, Fife Fancy etc. Undoubtedly the most beautiful book on canaries ever published - reflected in the cost of £150 - £500 if you can find one. Occasionally available on Web-auction sites or from rare book dealers.

Canaries Hybrids & British Birds, Edited by Robson & Lewer: Waverley Book Company, circa 1900. Twenty six coloured plates by A.F. Lydon & E.F. Bailey . Definitive and visually stunning as the Blakston volume above, this remains a great standard work on canaries, with lavish colour illustrations. Occasionally available for around £100.

Our Canaries by Claude St. John: published by Cage Birds, London 1911; Thirty two colour plates painted by Harry Norman. Regarded by many as the classic text. Occasionally available for around £100.

Hervieux's Treatise on Canaries: Hervieux de Chanteloup: published Paris 1709, by Claude Prudhomme.
"Nouveau traité des serins de Canarie, contenant la manière de les élever, les apparier pour en avoir de belles races; avec beaucoup de remarques aussi curieuses que nécessaires sur les signes & causes de leurs maladies " Small 8vo. 356pp. "The original manual on the correct method of breeding, rearing and training canaries, with chapters on the origin of these birds, the diseases which afflict them and how they may be cured." Hervieux was 'gouverneur des serins' (canary director) to Madame la Princesse at the French Court, to whom this work is dedicated. Later editions available for around £150.

Canaries and Cage Birds: George H. Holden,
"The Food, Care, Breeding, Diseases And Treatment Of All House Birds For Pleasure And Profit". New York, 1888. 309 pages, twelve splendid chromolithographs, several b/w illust., charts, musical notation.

<>The Canary Book: Robert L. Wallace, London 1889, Upcott & Gill.
<>Full directions for breeding, rearing and managing canaries and canary-mules; cage-making, formation of canary societies; exhibition canaries, their points and how to breed and exhibit them. 321 pages. +16pp.adverts. b&w + colour chromo-litho plates. Several editions, the first edition, the one with chromo-lithographs is the most expensive - around £140.

Guide to Canary Breeding and Exhibiting: W.E. Brooks
Cage Birds, 1940. London, 110 pages; 11 colour plates, 27 half tone/ line illustrations. A classic text that deals with breeding, management and showing of: Belgian, Border, Norwich Crested & Plainhead, Dutch Frill, Lancashire Coppy, Lizard, London Fancy, Yorkshire.

The Norwich Canary: A Guide to Keeping, Breeding and Showing. Joe Bracegirdle: London: Blandford Press (1988). 144 pages. Many colour/ b&w photos

The Roller. Concerning Its Health, Habits and Happiness; Its Feeding, Breeding and Training; Thomas A. Church: New York, 1921.

Canary Standards in Colour: An Exhibitor's Guide to the Canary Fancy.
G. T. Dodwell, Hampshire, Nimrod Press, 1986. Colour plates, other illustrations. 152 pp. Arguably the most knowledgeable canary author of the century - all of his books are outstanding. 'Canary Standards in Colour'covers the standards laid down by the specialist societies as well as showing canaries.
Illustrated by John W. Hills.

The Complete Book of Canaries: G.T. Dodwell
NY. Howell House, 1986, 144 pages. Colour illustrations and photos. Excellent comprehensive book.

Encyclopaedia of Canaries: G.T. Dodwell
T.H.F. Publications, N.J. 1976 HB- Photos throughout, Index. Covers every breed and every aspect of canary management. Readily available as a second-hand book from Ebay and other on-line book sites.

The Lizard Canary and Other Rare Breeds: G.T. Dodwell
Hindhead: Saiga Press, 1982. 198 pp. illustrations. The history and development of the Lizard Canary. the Crested, Lancashire, Scots Fancy and several other rare breeds. The book examines the history, form and shape, breeding, and exhibiting of each variety. There is also a section on modern day canary management.

The Norwich Canary. K.W. Grigg and James Blake.
Alton: Nimrod Press, 1988. illustrations. 258 pp. Paperback,.

Canary Tales: Linda Hogan: A modern, up-to-date American handbook on the keeping of canaries written by an expert fancier; extremely practical and thorough information covering everything from feeding and health, to genetics and showing. Highly regarded in the USA. The 12th Edition of Canary Tales is $13.95.

The Yorkshire Canary: Ernest Howson.
Spur Books, 1980. 8vo., 166pp, illustrated, brown cloth covers, D/W Book. A basic guide to Yorkshires and canary management.

The Border Canary, James Blake; Beech Publishing, Alton, Hants. 1991. 98pp with many black and white illustrations. Probably the most widely available current text on Borders.

Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Canaries & Other Cage Birds, Nola Fogg Miller, 1944 Revised Louisville, KY: Audubon Pub Co. 1944. A classic American text that has been reprinted many times.

The Cinnamon Bird: R.M. Lockley Staples Press London. 1st. edition 1948. 79pps. Four colour plates by bird artist C.F.Tunnicliffe. Arguably the finest work of literature every produced on the canary - tells the true story of how scientist Lockley released a dozen canaries on the remote island of Skokholm and recorded their lives, loves and deaths during the first year of W.W.II. Tunnicliffe's illustrations are superb works of art. Usually available on web auctions for £12-20 as a first edition. R.M. Lockley was one of the great bird-ecologists of the century - he died recently in April 2000.

Wild Plants and Seeds for Birds, Richard Morse, London, Poultry World Ltd. paperback, 98 pages. First edition 1926, Third Impression 1952, out of print. The best, and only book which deals with the subject of wild plants and seeds for birds in a comprehensive manner.

The Cage Bird Handbook. A Manual for Owners of Parakeets, Lovebirds, Parrots, Macaws, Canaries, Cockatoos; Bernard Poe, New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1954, 144 pp. 20 illus. by author. Very good book on general biology and physiology of birds; gives insight into the evolution of birds and their characteristics.

The Encyclopaedia of Cage and Aviary Birds; Cyril H. Rogers 1975 Treasure Press., Covers Canaries, Budgerigars, Zebra Finches & Bengalese, Parakeets, Parrots, Exotic Birds, Genetics, Ailments. Square 4to. 200 pages. Many plates, text illustrations, a section of colour plates.

Singing Canaries; Klaus Speicher: New Jersey 1981:
T F H Publications, . One of the best-known writers on the Roller Canary.

Stroud's Digest on the Diseases of Birds', Robert Stroud,
ISBN 0-87666-435-4. Over 470 pages, profusely illustrated, TFH Publications, N.J. 1964. An A-Z compendium of the diseases of birds by the 'Birdman of Alcatraz' -who became one of the world's greatest bird pathologists. Stroud was a double murderer who died after spending 54 years in solitary confinement. Costs $15-20. Although some aspects have been superceded by modern developments in areas like vitamins & antibiotics, this book remains the most accessible classic work on bird biology and diseases. Should be on every bird breeders book-shelf.

Diseases of Canaries Robert Stroud 1964 NJ: TFH, , 239 pages. Illustrated. Discusses: nutrition, anatomy, treatments for injuries and disease, etc.

Handbook of Canaries Dr. Matthew M. Vriends, Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications, 1980 ISBN: 0-87666-876-7. Numerous colour and b/w photos. a concise and authoritative book on the care and breeding of canaries.

Coloured and Type Canaries Geoffrey Walker, a modern classic by British author and canary expert Geoff Walker. Highly regarded in both the USA and the UK. Out of print in the UK, available second hand via Ebay. New American edition from Raincoast Publishing.

HOW TO FIND BOOKS
Ebay web-auctions are a good way of finding second-hand books.

Advanced Book Exchange ABE's database links thousands of booksellers world wide and usually has lots of canary books, both modern and rare.

Bibliofind
Over ten million books available on line from thousands of booksellers. Many canary books

Hampshire Breeders & Books,
12 Inwood Road, Liss, Hants. GU33 7LZ. England, UK Tel/Fax: 01730-301340. Specialist bird book dealer offers a large collection of modern editions on canaries, parrots, budgerigars and exotic aviary birds. Also has wide range of videos for sale by leading exhibitors as well a rare (19th C) book selection.