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Natural History

We are leading specialists in rare natural history books, particularly the magnificent, hand-coloured volumes on birds, flowers, and fruit published during the Georgian and Victorian periods. We also stock first editions and finely bound copies of important reference works and popular bird and gardening guides.

See: Animals & Fish, Birds, Butterflies & Insects, Flowers & Plants

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  • A handsomely bound set of John Obadiah Westwood's British Butterflies and British Moths, the classic colour-plate work on the subject.
    A handsomely bound set of John Obadiah Westwood's British Butterflies and British Moths, the classic colour-plate work on the subject.

    WESTWOOD, John Obadiah.
    British Butterflies and their Transformations; [and] British Moths and their Transformations. 1857.
    £1,250.00

  • British Butterflies and Their Transformations.
    British Butterflies and Their Transformations.

    WESTWOOD, John Obadiah; HUMPHREYS, Henry Noel (illus.)
    British Butterflies and Their Transformations. 1841.
    £950.00

  • The first edition of the classic illustrated ornithology book A History of British Birds by William Yarrell, published in 1843.
    The first edition of the classic illustrated ornithology book A History of British Birds by William Yarrell, published in 1843.

    YARRELL, William.
    A History of British Birds. 1843.
    £350.00

  • Fourth edition of Francis Orpen Morris's The History of British Birds, the classic standard text on British birds.
    Fourth edition of Francis Orpen Morris's The History of British Birds, the classic standard text on British birds.

    MORRIS, Francis Orpen.
    A History of British Birds 1895-1896
    £1,250.00

  • A fine set of 37 original watercolours by Frank Knight for Joseph Forshaw's Vanished and Vanishing Parrots.
    A fine set of 37 original watercolours by Frank Knight for Joseph Forshaw's Vanished and Vanishing Parrots.

    KNIGHT, Frank (illustrator).
    Vanished and Vanishing Parrots 2007-2011.
    £27,500.00

  • The enlarged second edition of North's comprehensive survey of the birds' nests and eggs of Australia and Tasmania, in the original printed wrappers.
    The enlarged second edition of North's comprehensive survey of the birds' nests and eggs of Australia and Tasmania, in the original printed wrappers.

    NORTH, Alfred J.
    Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania. 1901-1914.
    £2,500.00

  • Wytsman's Genera Avium was to describe all avian groups but his death brought an end to the project.
    Wytsman's Genera Avium was to describe all avian groups but his death brought an end to the project.

    WYTSMAN, Philogène Auguste Galilée.
    Genera Avium. 1905-14.
    £1,500.00

  • The edition princeps of Aldrovandi Ullise's Ornithologiae, a celebrated treatise on birds illustrated with woodcuts.
    The edition princeps of Aldrovandi Ullise's Ornithologiae, a celebrated treatise on birds illustrated with woodcuts.

    ALDROVANDI, Ulisse.
    Ornithologiae, 1599.
    £4,500.00

  • First editions of A Natural History of Birds by Eleazar Albin, the first British bird book illustrated with hand-coloured plates, published in 1731, 1734, & 1738.
    First editions of A Natural History of Birds by Eleazar Albin, the first British bird book illustrated with hand-coloured plates, published in 1731, 1734, & 1738.

    ALBIN, Eleazar.
    A Natural History of Birds. 1731, 1734 & 1738.
    £23,500.00

  • First edition with variant title page of Curtis's Flora Londinensis, the earliest English flora with coloured plates in any way approaching comprehensive
    First edition with variant title page of Curtis's Flora Londinensis, the earliest English flora with coloured plates in any way approaching comprehensive

    CURTIS, William.
    Flora Londinensis: [1775]-1777-1798.
    £9,500.00

  • Actinologia Britannica.
    Actinologia Britannica.

    GOSSE, Philip Henry.
    Actinologia Britannica. 1860.
    £450.00

  • A finely bound copy of Colonel Meinertzhagen's 'Birds of Arabia', the definitive work on Arabian birds.
    A finely bound copy of Colonel Meinertzhagen's 'Birds of Arabia', the definitive work on Arabian birds.

    MEINERTZHAGEN, Colonel R.
    Birds of Arabia. 1954.
    £3,750.00

  • First editions, a rare complete set of both series of Robert Sweet's monumental work The British Flower Garden, with over 7,000 hand-coloured illustrations
    First editions, a rare complete set of both series of Robert Sweet's monumental work The British Flower Garden, with over 7,000 hand-coloured illustrations

    SWEET, Robert.
    The British Flower Garden; 1823-1825 & 1831-1838.
    £9,750.00

  • Attractive collection of pressed seaweeds with printed identification labels.
    Attractive collection of pressed seaweeds with printed identification labels.

    HERBARIUM.
    Album of dried plants. Late 19th to early 20th century.
    £3,000.00

  • the most handsome and influential botanical of its day, with its near-dreamlike depiction of plants suspended above cityscapes and other backgrounds.
    the most handsome and influential botanical of its day, with its near-dreamlike depiction of plants suspended above cityscapes and other backgrounds.

    MUNTING, Abraham.
    Phytographia Curiosa, Exhibens Arborum, Fruticum, Herbarum & Florum Icones. 1727.
    £4,500.00

  • Mixed set of F.O. Morris's History of British Birds and History of Nests and Eggs, 1863-1864.
    Mixed set of F.O. Morris's History of British Birds and History of Nests and Eggs, 1863-1864.

    MORRIS, Francis Orpen.
    A History of British Birds [and] A Natural History of the Nests and Eggs of British Birds. 1863-1864.
    £1,750.00

  • The fourth and fifth editions respectively of Beverly R. Morris's History of British Birds and British Game Birds, 1895-1897, with hand-coloured plates.
    The fourth and fifth editions respectively of Beverly R. Morris's History of British Birds and British Game Birds, 1895-1897, with hand-coloured plates.

    MORRIS, Beverly R.
    A History of British Birds [with] British Game Birds and Wildfowl. 1895-1897.
    £675.00

  • Deutschlands Flora
    Deutschlands Flora

    Reichenbach, H. G. Ludwig.
    Deutschlands Flora 1837-1912
    £12,500.00

  • First edition of Henry Lambert's Flore Naturelle, containing 80 hand-coloured plates of flowers.
    First edition of Henry Lambert's Flore Naturelle, containing 80 hand-coloured plates of flowers.

    LAMBERT, Henry.
    Flore Naturelle. Études par Henry Lambert c. 1890
    £3,750.00

  • First edition of the most beautiful publication on Crustacea, Leach and Sowerby's Malacostraca Podophthalmata Britanniae.
    First edition of the most beautiful publication on Crustacea, Leach and Sowerby's Malacostraca Podophthalmata Britanniae.

    LEACH, William Elford & SOWERBY, James (illustrator).
    Malacostraca Podophthalmata Britanniæ; 1815-1875.
    £7,500.00

  • First edition of one of the most significant of Australian bird books, The Birds of the District of Geelong by Charles E. Belcher.
    First edition of one of the most significant of Australian bird books, The Birds of the District of Geelong by Charles E. Belcher.

    BELCHER, Charles E.
    The Birds of the District of Geelong, Australia. [1914].
    £350.00

  • The Talking Parrot and Its Care by Armistead Carter, a rare pamphlet with two hand-coloured illustrations & interesting ads for bird and reptile supplies.
    The Talking Parrot and Its Care by Armistead Carter, a rare pamphlet with two hand-coloured illustrations & interesting ads for bird and reptile supplies.

    CARTER, Armistead.
    The Talking Parrot and its Care. 1937.
    £50.00

  • First edition of Australian Parrots by Neville Cayley, the author of Australia's most popular field guide What Bird is That.
    First edition of Australian Parrots by Neville Cayley, the author of Australia's most popular field guide What Bird is That.

    CAYLEY, Neville W.
    Australian Parrots. 1938.
    £100.00

  • Scarce first edition of What Bird is That by Neville Cayley, the first comprehensive illustrated field guide to Australian birds.
    Scarce first edition of What Bird is That by Neville Cayley, the first comprehensive illustrated field guide to Australian birds.

    CAYLEY, Neville W.
    What Bird is That? A Guide to the Birds of Australia. 1931.
    £500.00

  • An exceptional imperial octavo set, one of only 24 copies of the <em>Land Birds</em> thus, finely bound in crushed morocco, all first editions save for quadrupeds.
    An exceptional imperial octavo set, one of only 24 copies of the <em>Land Birds</em> thus, finely bound in crushed morocco, all first editions save for quadrupeds.

    BEWICK, Thomas & John.
    History of British Birds [with] A Supplement to the History of British Birds, A General History of Quadrupeds [and] The Fables of Aesop. 1797, 1804 & 1821; 1800; 1818.
    £5,000.00

  • First edition of Records of Parrots Bred in Captivity by Arthur Prestwich, a scarce, comprehensive record of parrot breeding, inscribed by the author.
    First edition of Records of Parrots Bred in Captivity by Arthur Prestwich, a scarce, comprehensive record of parrot breeding, inscribed by the author.

    PRESTWICH, Arthur A.
    Records of Parrots Bred in Captivity [together with] Additions. 1950-1952 & 1954.
    £250.00

  • A handsomely bound imperial octavo set, all first editions, copiously illustrated.
    A handsomely bound imperial octavo set, all first editions, copiously illustrated.

    YARRELL, William & BELL, Thomas.
    A History of British Birds [with] A History of British Fishes with Supplement [and] A History of British Quadrupeds [and] A History of British Reptiles. 1843, 1836, 1837, & 1839.
    £3,750.00

  • First edition of this important botanical magazine with over 700 plates.
    First edition of this important botanical magazine with over 700 plates.

    PAXTON, Sir Joseph.
    Paxton's Magazine of Botany, and Register of Flowering Plants. 1834-1849.
    £10,000.00

  • Concerning Parrots. Bird Exhibits at the Peabody Museum.
    Concerning Parrots. Bird Exhibits at the Peabody Museum.

    Emilio, S.G.
    Concerning Parrots. Bird Exhibits at the Peabody Museum. 1929.
    £50.00

  • First edition of Monandrian Plants by William Roscoe, one of the most impressive lithographed botanical books.
    First edition of Monandrian Plants by William Roscoe, one of the most impressive lithographed botanical books.

    ROSCOE, William.
    Monandrian Plants of the order Scitamineae, [1824-] 1828.
    £17,500.00

  • The Herefordshire Pomona is a classic in the science and practice of pomology.
    The Herefordshire Pomona is a classic in the science and practice of pomology.

    HOGG, Robert; BULL, Henry Graves.
    The Herefordshire Pomona, 1876-1885.
    £6,500.00

  • Cistus species are upright evergreen shrubs, having mostly pink or purple flowers, which resemble roses.
    Cistus species are upright evergreen shrubs, having mostly pink or purple flowers, which resemble roses.

    SWEET, Robert
    Cistineae. 1825-30
    £2,500.00

  • The Illustated Book of Canaries and Cage Birds, a beautifully illustrated introductory guide with 56 chromolithographed plates
    The Illustated Book of Canaries and Cage Birds, a beautifully illustrated introductory guide with 56 chromolithographed plates

    BLAKSTON, W.A.; SWAYSLAND, W.; WIENER, August F.
    The Illustrated Book of Canaries and Cage Birds, British and Foreign. [1877-1880].
    £450.00

  • The scarce second edition of David Seth-Smith's monograph on Parakeetss, illustrated with 20 colur plates.
    The scarce second edition of David Seth-Smith's monograph on Parakeetss, illustrated with 20 colur plates.

    SETH-SMITH, David.
    Parrakeets. 1926.
    £1,250.00

  • The first edition of Davd Seth-Smith monograph on Parakeets illustrated with 20 colour plates, 19 of which are hand-coloured.
    The first edition of Davd Seth-Smith monograph on Parakeets illustrated with 20 colour plates, 19 of which are hand-coloured.

    SETH-SMITH, David.
    Parrakeets. 1902-1903.
    £850.00

  • A signed limited edition issue of Elizabeth Butterworth's Amazon Parrots, illustrated with 28 colourplates on Mellotex paper.
    A signed limited edition issue of Elizabeth Butterworth's Amazon Parrots, illustrated with 28 colourplates on Mellotex paper.

    BUTTERWORTH, Elizabeth (illustrator); LOW, Rosemary.
    Amazon Parrots. 1983.
    £1,500.00

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