I look forward to seeing the book TV presentation regarding the original Roger Tory Peterson Guide. However influential that guide was it was not the first guide for non-scientists. For example, there is a series of guides by Frank Chapman who was Curator of Ornithology at The American Museum of Natural History. I have in front of me "Color Key to North American birds"-the  color range is limited to red, yellow and blue. It's organized like many modern guides though not like Peterson; gives field marks, ranges and calls next to a color drawing of the bird. The copyright is 1912. To top it all Chapman authored a "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America that came in a pocket edition-flexible covers $4.10 postpaid. He also had a book of photographs that included a chapter on outfit and methods. I would love to see that one. The only one I have actually seen is the " Color Key...." which I have a copy of. It has the Ivory-billed Woodpecker ("range now restricted") and the Passenger Pigeon ("exceedingly rare").
 

Phil Brody