THE ENTERPRISE 
In November, 1910, in response to an invitation tendered by several prominent 
members of the Cooper Ornithological Club, William Leon Dawson, the senior author of 
“The Birds of Washington,” came south to look over the field, and, if favorably impressed, 
to propose plans for the preparation of a splendid and elaborate work upon “The Birds of 
California.”’ His plans were submitted to both divisions of the Club and enthusiastically 
ratified; and the members of the Cluh pledged themselves to co-operate by every means in 
their power toward the success of the enterprise. A quiet personal canvass of support was 
at once begun, and the results obtained justified the organization of “The Birds of 
California Publishing Company” the following spring, viz., in April, 1911, with an authorized 
capitalization of $75,000. The canvass has so far progressed that the value of book sub- 
scriptions in hand already exceeds the working capital required, viz., $30,000; so that we 
are ready to make our plans public and to invite final action. 
The scope of the proposed work is virtually that of the Washington book, save that 
it is to be rather fuller in textual treatment and very much more elaborately illustrated. 
Each species of bird found in California will be portrayed in an extended popular vein, and 
each subspecies will receive separate technical treatment. The text itseh will be entirely 
the work of Mr. Dawson, but it will incorporate not only his own experience of five or six 
years in California, but the essentials of all available knowledge as published in “The 
Condor” and elsewhere, and as embodied in abundant notes contributed by member.s of the 
Cooper Club. The work is thus seriously undertaken, as advertised, “under the auspices 
of the Cooper Ornithological Club,” and Mr. Joseph Grinnell has promised to vise the 
manuscript. 
Especial pains is to be taken with the illustration of “The Birds of California” ; in 
fact, it is to be for its size the most elaborately-illustrated work on birds ever undertaken, 
as well as the most sumptuous ever produced in America. As a basis of this expectation, 
we have the uninterrupted work of the author and his assistants with the cameras for five 
seasons in California (Photographs of twenty-five species of the Limicolae have already 
been secured). Messrs. Bohhnan and Finley of Portland have promised to supply needed 
material from their matchless collections, and a host of amateurs are already at work to the 
same end. Finally, and best of all, Mr, Allan Brooks, who is now in California, is devot- 
ing practically his entire time for five years to the production of the colored plates for “The 
Birds of California.” In this as in other regards our realization is exceeding our original 
promises. We began by promising only 48 plates, whereas we already have over 100, and 
hope to have 200 or even 300 — all without additional cost to our original subscribers. 
THE EDITIONS 
Patrons’ Edition, De Grand Luxe, complete in four sumptuous volumes and limited 
to one hundred copies. A hand-made edition of extreme luxury, illustrated throughout 
with original photographs, half-tone proofs pasted in, bromide enlargements, etc., and con- 
tainin.g six original water-color studies by Allan Brooks. This edition will employ a large 
format, lljza by 15 inches, facilitating the use of hand-set type and the displa}^ of over 1000 
illustrations. The binding will be of the best known to the art, and will be done ( tariff con- 
ditions permitting) in London under personal direction of Mr. Dawson. The set will 
weigh fifty pounds. The price is $1000. Seventeen sets already subscribed, as follows : 
William H. Crocker 
Charles Templeton Crocker 
William B. Bourn 
Mrs. J. Hobart Moore 
Mrs Esther L. Hammond 
John Lewis Childs 
Miss Mary E. Foy 
Mrs. Margaret B. Fowler 
Mrs. R. R. Blacker 
William F. Herrin 
John Martin 
Miss E. B. Scripps 
E. J. deSabla, Jr. 
A. B. Spreckles 
Joel Remington Fithian 
Mrs. Robert J. Burdette 
Mrs. Katharine T. Russell 
Stockholders’ Bditio)i, De Luxe, complete in three volumes, 9)4 by 12)4 inches in 
size, and limited to 250 copies. This edition will represent the supreme of mechanical 
processes in book-making and illustration, and will be bound in full French Levant leather- 
inlaid by hand w'ith special bird designs in color. The three volumes will comprise over 
1500 pages of text with 750 half-tones, besides 24 full-page photogravures, at least 100 pro- 
cess reproductions of water-color paintings by Mr. Allan Brooks, and 63 full-page photographs. 
Net weight about 36 pounds. Price $150 (but see special offer beyond). This edition is 
especially recommended to members of the C. O. C. One hundred and twelve copies are 
RDS OF 
sold, and the following members of the Cooper Ornithological Club are among the present 
subscribers : 
A. B. Howell 
John W. Mailliard 
Annie M. Alexander 
F. E. Newbury 
W. Lee Chambers 
Virgil W. Owen 
Frank C. Willard 
O. W. Howard 
Harry J. Lelande 
Mrs. William R. Myers 
A. M. Ingersoll 
J. Eugene Law 
Antonin Jay 
Donald R. Dickey 
N. K. Carpenter 
Elizabeth Day Palmer 
Howard W. Wright 
C. B. Linron 
Charles Irvin Clay 
David Starr Jordan 
John Rowley 
Howard Robertson 
G. Frean Morcom 
W. B. Judson 
Jas. H. Gaut 
Sniiscf Edition De Luxe, limited to 250 copies. Exactly like the preceding except 
that it is in three-quarter binding, and has only 30 full-page photographs. This is a worthy 
and durable form and will become our leader as soon as the subscription list to tire Stock- 
hplders’ Edition is completed. The price is $110. Subscription list is now open. Only four 
sold. 
Large Paper Edition De Luxe, limited to 250 copies. Of the same general propor- 
tions as the two foregoing, and conserving their essential art values at a minimum of cost. 
Paper and press-work exactly as before, but binding of the simplest sort, gray boards and 
paper label, and the full-page photographs sacrificed. Will contain the entire series of 
color-plates, however extended. Purchasers who regard this valuable feature should not 
fail to secure at least this edition. Net weight about 32 pounds. Price $67.50. Among the 
early subscribers are the following Cooper Club members. 
H. W. Carriger Adriaan Van Rossem H. S. Gane 
R. H. Bennett Maunsell S. Crosby William Frederic Bade 
J. R. Pendleton E. S. Spajlding W. B. Mershon 
Booklovers' Edition, limited to 500 c-jpies. Involves a change of format and substan- 
tial reduction in bulk, being printed on tainner paper 7J4 by 10 3-8 inches in size, and 
necessitating the sacrifice of the larger co.or-plates and photogravures, — 48 of the former 
and 12 of the latter retained. Handsomely bound in Levant leather, and very satisfactory 
for those who dislike heavy volumes. The set of three volumes will weigh about 19 pounds. 
Price $45. Cooper Club subscribers : 
J. Grinnell Frank S. Daggett H. C. Tracy 
H. S. Swarth W. K. Fi.sher Charles A. Kofoid 
W. P. Taylor G. Willevt Harold C. Bryant 
Albert E. Colburn 
Students’ Edition, in three volumes. A proposed popular edition of ordinary quality 
wherein only the value of the text is to he regarded. Prices will run from $20 in cloth to 
$30 in full leather. Subscription list not yet opened. Fuller announcement later. 
CHARACTER AND CLAIMS 
For those not already acquainted with Mr. Dawson's work we submit a few extracts 
from reviews and letters wlrich appear to justify our high expectations of this final effort. 
Of ‘’The Birds of Ohio” (1903). 
"The nio.st attractive and valuable work on the birds of a single State which has .vet appeared". 
—Frank M. Chapman 
Of “The Birds of Washington” (Two volumes, 1909). 
"The work as a whole and in detail is a model of its kind". 
—Robert Ridgway 
"A handsome work creditable alike to the author and his various collaborators, to the publishers, and to 
the State whose birds are here so effectively depicted". 
— J. A. Ailen in The Auk 
"It is certainly a magnificent work". 
— William L. Finley 
"Exceedingly interesting". 
— John Lewis Childs 
"There is not a ‘dry’ page in the book". 
—A. W. Anthony 
"A magnificent piece of bookmaking". 
—Dr. T. S. Palmer 
"The most attractive and delightful of them all". 
— Rev. P. B. Peabody 
"The book is wonderful”. 
—Col. John E. Thayer 
"The work is an ideal of artistic taste and elegant bookmaking", 
— Joseph Grinnell in The Condor 
"I am delighted with them". 
— Theodore Roosevelt 
