Publisher's Synopsis
This limited edition book is limited to 50 signed and numbered copies and includes leather binding and slipcase. The spine has five horizontal ridges beneath the leather, used to simulate the bundles of thread that in medieval times were used to sew signatures together, a hand-painted eagle feather on the spine, the slip-case bound in bonded leather, an original watercolour painting of an eagle's head that accompanies each copy (and is removable for framing), the pages are gilt-edged, and an eagle in flight medallion of fine pewter plated with copper, then nickel, then gold, is embossed into the leather cover of the book. The medallion was sculpted by the noted artist, Mark Rossi, especially for the book. Because of the painted feather and the painted eagle head (both by Dr Ellis), each numbered copy will be unique. With over 400 images by 21 photographers and 15 artists, and over 100 accounts by 48 authors representing 20 nations, this book will appeal to both the generalist and the academic. Focusing on teaching everyone to value the eagle and the vast open habitats it needs to survive, and the creatures that share its world, this unique work both celebrates the eagle and attunes readers to the challenges facing this species in the modern world. Along with legendary stories from antiquity are chapters on trained eagles hunting large quarry such as gazelle, deer, foxes, wolves, and even man; eagle research and intelligence; and the eagle in the legend and lore of native peoples worldwide, including the acts by North American First Nations people to obtain coup feathers. An additional chapter outlines ways and means of capturing eagles, including the use of helicopters. The book concludes with chapters on three special trained eagles.
