The Naturalist's Library.

First edition of Sir William Jardine's famous The Naturalist's Library. Divided into four sections with each prepared by a leading naturalist, the series explores ornithology, mammalia, entomology, and ichthyology. Some of the illustrations were made by Edward Lear, with the engravings executed by William Home Lizars (1788-1859) and then hand coloured.

Jardine was a Scottish naturalist known for disseminating natural history to Victorian society via this series.

'Jardine travelled widely, visiting Paris (where he attended classes in anatomy and natural history) in 1820, the continent (with Selby) in 1825, Ireland in 1845, and Bermuda, Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica in 1860–61. His voluminous correspondence with naturalists all over the world was very fruitful in obtaining specimens of birds, many new to science, for description in his several ornithological books, and expanding his museum collection.'

First editions; 40 vols, 8vo (16.2 x 10.2 cm); 1,346 hand-coloured engraved plates; some light spotting and toning, vol 15 plate 22 detached, vol. 16 plate 7 partially incised, mispagination, and lacking plate 18; vol. 20 pl. 18 detached; vol. 23 mispagination, vol. 27 lacking plate 29; contemporary green half calf, marbled boards, spines gilt in compartments, light wear to the boards and rubbing on marbled covers, vol. 9 joint cracked, very good condition; 300pp.

Freeman, British Natural History Books, pg. 186. Jackson, Christine E. "Jardine, Sir William, of Applegirth, seventh baronet (1800–1874), naturalist." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 23 Sep. 2004.