When shopping for birding field guides & calls, the key choice is often between a cohesive reference collection and a varied stack of books. The Easton Press Roger Tory Peterson set emphasizes a named author, 50th Anniversary presentation, and collector appeal. The Lot Of 7 Bird Species Ornithology Peterson Exotic North American Guide takes a different route with mixed authors, a 1970s vintage identity, and a lower listed price.
Quick verdict
Choose the Easton Press collection if you want a unified Peterson-focused reference set with leather binding and collector-oriented presentation. Choose the mixed lot if you want seven illustrated bird books with varied authors and a vintage feel. The listed prices are $59.89 apart, so the decision is less about a small feature difference and more about what kind of birding library you want to build.
At a glance
| Comparison | Easton Press Roger Tory Peterson Field Guides 50th Anniv, Birds \& Ornithology | Lot Of 7 Bird Species Ornithology Peterson Exotic North American Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 83.88 | USD 23.99 |
| Collection identity | Roger Tory Peterson, 50th Anniversary Edition | Mixed authors and subjects, 1970s |
| Presentation | Leather binding; Collector's Edition; Illustrated | Hardcover; Dust Jacket; Illustrated |
Where each one wins
- Easton Press wins for a consistent reference identity. The Peterson authorship, 50th Anniversary wording, and collector's-edition designation give it a clear editorial character rather than a miscellaneous-book feel.
- The seven-book lot wins for variety at its listed price. Its mixed-author format covers exotic and North American bird topics, while the 1970s era adds a distinct vintage angle.
- For display, the Easton Press set has the more specifically described presentation. Leather binding and the Collector's Edition designation are central to its appeal.
- For a broader mix of reading levels, the seven-book lot is more explicitly flexible. Its intended audience includes ages 9-12, young adults, and adults.
Product notes
Easton Press Roger Tory Peterson Field Guides 50th Anniv, Birds & Ornithology
The strongest reason to choose this collection is its focused identity: it brings together Roger Tory Peterson Field Guides in a 50th Anniversary Edition associated with Easton Press. Leather binding, English-language text, and illustrated content support a formal reference-shelf presentation, while the Collector's Edition designation makes the set appealing to someone who cares about how the books are finished as well as what they cover. The concrete limitation is the $59.89 price gap versus the other collection. That difference makes the Easton Press choice harder to justify if your main goal is simply to assemble a varied group of bird books. It fits best when Peterson authorship and the anniversary presentation are central to the purchase.
Lot Of 7 Bird Species Ornithology Peterson Exotic North American Guide
At USD 23.99, this mixed lot is the straightforward choice for shoppers who want several bird-related books without committing to a single-author collection. The books are described as illustrated hardcover volumes with dust jackets, and the 1970s publication era gives the group a clear vintage character. Its range includes exotic and North American bird species, with an intended audience spanning ages 9-12 through adults. The limitation is consistency: the author and book title are identified as a Mixed Lot, so the collection does not offer the same unified Peterson identity as the Easton Press set. Choose it for variety, vintage reading, and a broader household audience rather than for a tightly matched reference series.
Final choice by use case
- Choose Easton Press Roger Tory Peterson Field Guides 50th Anniv, Birds & Ornithology for a single-author bird reference collection, a leather-bound presentation, or a Collector's Edition centerpiece.
- Choose Lot Of 7 Bird Species Ornithology Peterson Exotic North American Guide for a mixed-author library, illustrated vintage books, and an audience that includes older children as well as adults.
In short, the Easton Press set is the more defined choice for Peterson-focused collecting, while the seven-book lot makes more sense when variety and the lower listed price matter most.
