The South Australian Ornithologist. Volume I, Part 1, January 1914 to Volume 30, Part 8, September 1989 [an unbroken run] [The South Australian Ornithologist] Australia,Ornithology,South Australia

Adelaide, South Australian Ornithological Association, 1914 to 1989. Octavo (Volumes 1-15 bound in seven books) and quarto (Volumes 16-30, bound in five books, plus a separate index to the first 25 volumes), all parts bound with the original wrappers (and the occasional errata slip). Matching full green morocco lettered in gilt on the spines; a few parts show minimal signs of handling prior to binding; overall, a near-fine set. The original subtitle, 'A Magazine of Ornithology', later became 'Journal of the South Australian Ornithological Association'. Provenance: Herbert Thomas Condon (1912-1978) 'was Curator of Birds, in charge of birds and reptiles, at the South Australian Institute (later Museum) from 1938 to 1976. He made his mark as a taxonomist and by the help he gave younger people over many years. He was also talented as a bird illustrator, cartoonist and photographer. Condon was active in the Royal Australasian Ornithological Union (RAOU), being the first professional ornithologist [to] hold office as President. He also convened the RAOU's Checklist Committee from the mid 1950s and worked on the new Australian Checklist as the sole taxonomist from the 1960s to 1975. He wrote and illustrated a number of books, including "A field guide to the hawks of Australia" (1949), and with Arnold McGill "A field guide to the waders" (1952), both published by the Bird Observers' Club' ('Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation', online). He was editor of 'The South Australian Ornithologist' from 1953 to 1964. Approximately a dozen parts from the 1930s have his ownership signature or name stamp on the front cover. The index volume is a presentation copy to 'David Condon | with very sincere thanks | for your outstanding work | Andrew Black | President | 8.9.75'. The foreword to the index states that the 'outstanding contributor is Mr. D. Condon, who produced the species index to the first 20 volumes (1914-1952)'. We presume Herbert and David Condon are related (father and son perhaps?), and given that the last volume in this run of the journal contains Volumes 28-30, published between 1978 and 1989, subsequent to Herbert's death, this set may have come through at least two generations of the family. [13 items].