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.
Stock Code 113478
London, John van Voorst, 1843, 1836, 1837, & 1839.
Original price
$4,820.00
-
Original price
$4,820.00
Original price
$0.00
$4,820.00
$4,820.00
-
$4,820.00
Current price
$4,820.00
Imperial octavo. A handsomely bound imperial octavo set, all first editions, of Yarrell's copiously illustrated British Birds and Fishes, including the supplement to the fishes, together with Bell's Quadrupeds and Reptiles.
William Yarrell (1784-1856) was a respected zoologist. 'About 1823, he began to note the occurrence and appearance of rare birds and, by 1825, was sending specimens to the artist Thomas Bewick (1753–1828), after whom he was to name a new species of swan. He also took a great interest in the contents of poultry and fish shops and markets... By 1825 he had assembled considerable natural history collections, notably one of birds' eggs (including the egg of a great auk). These collections included a great number of specimens collected by himself, for one of his strengths lay in careful dissection and preparation' (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).
'Between 1835 and 1836 Yarrell published serially his two-volume work A History of British Fishes, which was very favourably reviewed. In this work he paid particular attention to species that were a source of food, and he would often eat the specimens he collected to test whether they might be added to those known to be fit for the table... In 1843 Van Voorst published Yarrell's second book, The History of British Birds, in three volumes... These two histories were the prototype of a series of books by other writers, mostly dealing with invertebrates, published by Van Voorst' (ODNB).
Thomas Bell (1792-1880) was, in addition to a zoologist, one of the pioneers of dentistry in Britain. 'He was responsible for innovations in the use of various dental instruments and was the first to treat teeth as living structures by applying scientific surgery to dental disease' (ODNB). He was a professor of zoology at King's College and a member of the Linnean Society, and was responsible for the descriptions of the reptiles collected during the voyage of the Beagle.
First editions; 6 vols, imperial 8vo (27 x 17.5 cm); wood engravings throughout; a little light spotting to the endpapers and occasional isolated spots to contents, but overall a clean set; uniformly bound in green morocco by Hayday, spines gilt in compartments, gilt fillets to boards and turn-ins, all edges gilt; just the occasional light scuff or rubbed area to bindings, excellent condition.
Freeman 4176, 4177, 267, & 268.
William Yarrell (1784-1856) was a respected zoologist. 'About 1823, he began to note the occurrence and appearance of rare birds and, by 1825, was sending specimens to the artist Thomas Bewick (1753–1828), after whom he was to name a new species of swan. He also took a great interest in the contents of poultry and fish shops and markets... By 1825 he had assembled considerable natural history collections, notably one of birds' eggs (including the egg of a great auk). These collections included a great number of specimens collected by himself, for one of his strengths lay in careful dissection and preparation' (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).
'Between 1835 and 1836 Yarrell published serially his two-volume work A History of British Fishes, which was very favourably reviewed. In this work he paid particular attention to species that were a source of food, and he would often eat the specimens he collected to test whether they might be added to those known to be fit for the table... In 1843 Van Voorst published Yarrell's second book, The History of British Birds, in three volumes... These two histories were the prototype of a series of books by other writers, mostly dealing with invertebrates, published by Van Voorst' (ODNB).
Thomas Bell (1792-1880) was, in addition to a zoologist, one of the pioneers of dentistry in Britain. 'He was responsible for innovations in the use of various dental instruments and was the first to treat teeth as living structures by applying scientific surgery to dental disease' (ODNB). He was a professor of zoology at King's College and a member of the Linnean Society, and was responsible for the descriptions of the reptiles collected during the voyage of the Beagle.
First editions; 6 vols, imperial 8vo (27 x 17.5 cm); wood engravings throughout; a little light spotting to the endpapers and occasional isolated spots to contents, but overall a clean set; uniformly bound in green morocco by Hayday, spines gilt in compartments, gilt fillets to boards and turn-ins, all edges gilt; just the occasional light scuff or rubbed area to bindings, excellent condition.
Freeman 4176, 4177, 267, & 268.
Provenance
Delivery
We offer secure and express delivery on all local and international orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website.
