The Illustrated Book of Canaries and Cage birds, British and Foreign. 
Editors: Blackston, Swaysland & Wiener. PublishersL Cassell, Petter & Gilpin Co. London, 1877-80. 
First edition, 4to, viii, 448 pp, 56 fine coloured plates (chromo-lithographs) including 20 canary studies by artists A.F. Lydon and Ludlow.  Blackston was the great canary expert of the era. Deals with The Cinnamon, Norwich, Lizard, London Fancy, Yorkshire, Belgian, Dutch Frill, Lancashire and Scotch Fancy as they were in the 1880s, before the evolution of  the Border, Gloster, Fife Fancy etc. Undoubtedly the most beautiful book on canaries ever published - reflected in the cost of £150 - £250 if you can find one. Sometimes available on web auction sites or from rare book dealers.

Canaries Hybrids & British Birds 
Edited by Robson & Lewer: Published by: The Waverley Book Company, circa 1900. 
Twenty Six coloured plates by A.F. Lydon & E.F. Bailey . Almost as remarkable as the Blackston volume, this was one of the great standard works on canaries, with lavish halftone illustrations. Occasionally available for around £100.

Our Canaries  by Claude St. John: published by Cage Birds, London 1911 with 32 colour plates by Harry Norman. Regarded by many as the classic text. Occasionally available for around £100.

HERVIEUX (de Chanteloup), J.C. Nouveau traité des serins de Canarie, contenant la manière de les élever, les apparier pour en avoir de belles races; avec beaucoup de remarques aussi curieuses que nécessaires sur les signes & causes de leurs maladies ... Paris, Claude Prudhomme, 1713. Small 8vo. (10)ff + 356pp + (7)ff. The original  1713 manual on the correct method of breeding, rearing and training canaries, with chapters on the origin of these birds, the diseases  which afflict them and how they may be cured. The author was 'gouverneur des serins' to Madame la Princesse, to whom this work is dedicated. 

CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS by George H.Holden,  The Food, Care, Breeding, Diseases And Treatment Of All House Birds For Pleasure And Profit. NY; published by author, 1888. 2nd. ed. 10 1/2 x 7 in. 309 pp., 12 full color splendid chromolithographs, several b/w illust., charts, musical notation, plus v pp. index.

CANARIES.A Complete and Practical Guide to the Breeding,Exhibiting,and General Management of These Popular Birds. by C.A.House:  London: Link House Publishing, 2nd Edition,  8vo 257 pgs. 1930's.b/w illustrations,diagrams and plates

The Canary Book. by Robert L. Wallace, published London: Upcott Gill, [1889]. Full directions for the breeding, rearing and management of canaries and canary mules; cage making, formation of canary societies; exhibition canaries, their points and how to breed and exhibit them..and all matters connected with this fancy. 321pp. +16pp.adverts. b&w + colour chromo-litho plates. Original red cloth in an elaborate binding with birds and lettering in gilt. Several editions, the first edition, the one with chromo-lothographs is the most expensive - around £140.

Guide to Canary Breeding and Exhibiting,  by W.E. Brooks Cage Birds, London 1940 
110 pages; eleven colour plates, twenty seven half tone/ line illustrations. A classic text that deals with breeding, management and showing of: Belgian, Border, Norwich Crested & Plainhead, Dutch Frill, Lancashire Coppy, Lizard, London Fancy, Yorkshire.

Church (Thomas A.): The Roller. Concerning Its Health, Habits and Happiness; Its Feeding, Breeding and Training. ; NY, 1921. 

Dodwell, G. T. Canary Standards in Colour: An Exhibitor's Guide to the Canary Fancy. Hampshire, Nimrod Press, 1986. colour plates, other illustrations. 152 pp. Covers the standards laid down by the specialist societies as well as showing canaries. Illustrated by John W. Hills.

Dodwell, G.T.: The Complete Book of Canaries NY. Howell House, 1986 4TO. 144 pages. NF/NF. 1ST edition. Colour illustrations and photos

Dodwell, G.T. Encyclopaedia of Canaries T.H.F. Publications, N.J. 1976 HB- Photos throughout, Index.

Dodwell, G. T. The Lizard Canary and other Rare Breeds. Hindhead: Saiga, 1982. 198 pp. illustrations The history and development of the Lizard Canary and several other rare and threatened breeds. The book examines the history, form and shape, breeding, and exhibiting of each of the breeds, which include the Crested, Lancashire, Scotch, Belgian, and Frilled. There is also a section on modern day canary management.

Grigg, K.W. and James Blake. The Norwich Canary.  Alton: Nimrod Press, 1988. illustrations. 258 pp. Paperback,.

Howson, E. The Yorkshire Canary Spur Books, 1980. 8vo. 1980, 166pp, illustrated, brown cloth covers, D/W Book 

Blake, James; The Border Canary, Beech Publishing, Alton, Hants. 1991. 98pp with many black and white illustrations. Probably the most widely available current text on Borders.

The Gloster Fancy Canary, by N.J. Barrett and C. Blackwell. 

Fogg, Nola Miller, Illustrated by Misc. Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Canaries & Other Cage Birds, 1944 Revised Louisville, KY: Audubon Pub Co. 1944 Green Cloth. 

Lockley R.M. The Cinnamon Bird Staples Press London. 1st. edition 1948. 79pps. 4 full page colour plates by world reknowned bird artist C.F. Tunnicliffe. Arguably the finest work of literature every produced on the canary - tells the true story of how scientist Lockley released a dozen canaries on the remote island of Skokholm and recorded their lives, loves and deaths during the first year of W.W.II. Tunnicliffe's illustrations are superb works of art. Usually available on web auctions for £12-20 as a first edition. 

Poe, Bernard.: The Cage Bird Handbook. A Manual for Owners of Parakeets, Lovebirds, Parrots, Macaws, Canaries, Cockatoos; New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1954, Frontis, 144 pp. 20 illus. by author. Very good book on general biology and physiology of birds.

Rogers, Cyril H.: ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF CAGE AND AVIARY BIRDS. ; 1st edition 1975 Treasure Press., Covers Canaries, Budgerigars, Zebra Finches & Bengalese, Parakeets, Parrots, Exotic Birds, Genetics, Ailments. Square 4to. 200 pages. Many plates, text illustrations, a section of colour plates. 

Klaus Speicher: SINGING CANARIES ; New Jersey: T F H Publications, 1981. 

Stroud, Robert: Stroud's Digest on the  Diseases of Birds', 470 pages, profusely illustrated, TFH Publications, N.J. 1964. An A-Z compendium of the diseases of birds by the 'Birdman of Alcatraz' -who became one of the world's greatest bird pathologists. Stroud died after spending 54 years in solitary confinement.  ISBN 0-87666-435-4  - Costs $15-20.

Stroud, Robert:  Diseases of Canaries NJ: TFH, 1964, 239 pages. Illustrated. Discusses: nutrition, anatomy, treatments for injuries and disease, etc.

Vriends, Dr. Matthew M. Handbook of Canaries  Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications, 1980  ISBN: 0-87666-876-7. Numerous colour and b/w photos. a concise and authoritative book on the care and breeding of canaries. 

How to Find Books
eBAY web-auctions are a good way of finding books. 

Advanced Book Exchange  searches hundreds of booksellers world wide and usually has lots of canary books, both modern and rare.
Bibliofind
Over ten million books available on line from thousands of booksellers. Many canary books
Alibris:network of bookshops and dealers specialising in rare, out of print books.

Hampshire Breeders & Books,
12 Inwood Road, Liss, Hants. GU33 7LZ. England, UK Tel/Fax: 01730-301340. Specialist bird book dealer offers a large collection of modern editions on canaries, parrots, budgerigars and exotic aviary birds. Also has wide range of videos for sale by leading exhibitors as well a rare (19th C) book selection.