Beschreibung:

DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-1882, editor). The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S Beagle, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836... Edited and Superintended by Charles Darwin... naturalist to the expedition . London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1840-1843. 5 parts in three volumes, large 4° (306 x 240mm). Half-titles to all but the first part. 166 plates (163 lithographs [1 folding, 2 double-page, 82 hand-coloured], and 3 uncoloured engravings) after John Gould George Scharf and others. (Plate 20 in part I with imprint shaved, plates 12 and 13 in part III with plate numbers shaved, about 11 plates with appreciable spotting.) Near-contemporary green morocco gilt by Clarke & Bedford, covers with border of triple fillets with a simple decorative roll tool, spine in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second and third, the other compartments with repeat overall decoration of a large stylised flower-spray surrounded by various small tools, gilt turn-ins, comb-marbled endpapers, g.e. FIRST EDITION, AN EXCEPTIONAL SET in a fine binding comprising: Part I, Richard OWEN. 'Fossil Mammalia', 32 uncoloured lithographic plates by Scharf, printed by Charles Hullmandel, one folding, 2 double-page; Part II, George R. WATERHOUSE. 'Mammalia', 35 plates (32 hand-coloured lithographs, 3 uncoloured engravings by G.M. Waterhouse and Charles M. Curtis); Part III, John GOULD [and G.R.GRAY]. 'Birds', 50 hand-coloured lithographic plates by John and Elizabeth Gould; Part IV, Leonard JENYNS. 'Fish', 29 uncoloured lithographic plates; Part V, Thomas BELL 'Reptilia', 20 uncoloured lithographic plates. This work was originally published in 19 numbers between February 1838 and October 1843 and includes several contributions by Darwin. Apart from the geological introductions to the first and second parts 'he also contributed notices of habits and ranges throughout the text of Mammalia and Reptiles ' (Freeman). The third part, Birds , was completed by George Robert Gray (with Darwin's assistance) after Gould's departure for Australia in 1838. The fifty unsigned plates in this part are by John and Elizabeth Gould Of all Gould's works, 'this volume is thought to be the only one in which all the lithographs are entirely the work of Mr. and Mrs. Gould' (Jackson Lithography p.45). Cf. Anker 173 (details of part III only); BM(NH) II, p.715; Freeman 9; Nissen IVB 384 & ZBI 1391; Norman 586. (3)