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DANIEL GIRAUD ELLIOT (1835-1915)
A Monograph of the Felidae or Family of Cats. London: printed by Taylor & Francis, published by the author for the subscribers, [1878]-1883. Broadsheet (605 x 480mm). 43 FINE HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, all by J.Smit after Joseph Wolf, printed by M.& N.Hanhart. (Light spotting to three plates, small repaired marginal tears to two plates and one text leaf.) Old green half morocco, titled in gilt on spine, original upper wrappers to the parts bound in, t.e.g. (joints and extremities scuffed).
FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE FINEST OF ALL COLOUR-PLATE BOOKS ON MAMMALS, and a fitting companion to Elliot's various ornithological folios. Originally issued in 11 parts, the monograph describes and figures all the species of cat then known. As Eliott writes in the preface "Among the Families which constitute the Class Mammalia no more attractive one can be found than that of Felidae, as its members possess in the highest degree a beauty, both of form and colouring, most gratifying to the eye, and are also endowed with physical strength and weapons of offence not surpassed.. by any known creatures now living upon the earth. The Family comprises not only the largest and most ferocious of the beasts of prey, but also the graceful little animal that delights to make its home within man's abode". The examples shown were collected by Elliot after visiting all the great museums and zoological societies on both sides of the Atlantic, and the plates after Joseph Wolf, his "last series of drawings... that will be devoted to scientific illustration", brilliantly capture the lithe beauty and insolent power of the cat family. Nissen ZBI 1279; Wood 332.
A Monograph of the Felidae or Family of Cats. London: printed by Taylor & Francis, published by the author for the subscribers, [1878]-1883. Broadsheet (605 x 480mm). 43 FINE HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, all by J.Smit after Joseph Wolf, printed by M.& N.Hanhart. (Light spotting to three plates, small repaired marginal tears to two plates and one text leaf.) Old green half morocco, titled in gilt on spine, original upper wrappers to the parts bound in, t.e.g. (joints and extremities scuffed).
FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE FINEST OF ALL COLOUR-PLATE BOOKS ON MAMMALS, and a fitting companion to Elliot's various ornithological folios. Originally issued in 11 parts, the monograph describes and figures all the species of cat then known. As Eliott writes in the preface "Among the Families which constitute the Class Mammalia no more attractive one can be found than that of Felidae, as its members possess in the highest degree a beauty, both of form and colouring, most gratifying to the eye, and are also endowed with physical strength and weapons of offence not surpassed.. by any known creatures now living upon the earth. The Family comprises not only the largest and most ferocious of the beasts of prey, but also the graceful little animal that delights to make its home within man's abode". The examples shown were collected by Elliot after visiting all the great museums and zoological societies on both sides of the Atlantic, and the plates after Joseph Wolf, his "last series of drawings... that will be devoted to scientific illustration", brilliantly capture the lithe beauty and insolent power of the cat family. Nissen ZBI 1279; Wood 332.