Beschreibung:

JARDINE, Sir William (editor). The Naturalist's Library . Edinburgh, London & Dublin, 1833-1843 40 volumes, 12° (168 x 106mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece to each volume, engraved additional titles with a vignette (some hand-coloured), approximately 1252 engraved plates (1247 hand-coloured). (Lacking some half-titles.) Early-20th century blue half calf over marbled paper-covered boards, spines gilt in six compartments with raised bands, red and brown morocco lettering-pieces in the second and third compartments respectively, the others with repeat decoration built up from various small tools, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Provenance : George Alexander Lockett (armorial bookplate). AN ATTRACTIVE SET OF THE FIRST EDITION of this important illustrated compendium of natural history knowledge. In addition to the evident quality of the very fine plates, the text was compiled by some of the most eminent natural historians of the period: Charles Hamilrton Smith; William Swainson; prideaux John Selby; J. Duncan; .Dr. Dunbar; Robert Hamilton; William MacGillivray; G.R. Waterhouse; R.H. Schomburgk; Dr. Bushnan and, of course, Jardine himself. The set is made up of 14 volumes on Ornithology (433 plates); Entomology, 7 volumes, 219 plates; Ichthyology, 6 volumes, 195 plates (194 hand-coloured); and Mammals, 13 volumes, 405 plates (401 hand-coloured). Cf. Anker 222; BM(NH); cf. Nissen IVB 471; Wood p.403; Zimmer p.326. (40)