Details
WOLF, Joseph (1820-1899). Zoological Sketches . . . made for the Zoological Society of London, from animals in their vivarium, in the Regent's Park. Edited by D. W. Mitchell and Philip Lutley Sclater. London: Henry Graves & Company, [1856-]1861-67.
2 volumes, 2° (558 x 420mm). Hand-coloured lithographic titles by V. Brooks, tinted lithographic title to second series, letterpress titles, list of subscribers, lists of plates, 100 hand-coloured lithographic plates by J. Smit after Wolf, mounted on card. (Occasional soiling, mainly marginal, title of volume II and a few text leaves in volume I torn.) Contemporary russia, gilt (covers detached, worn).
FIRST EDITION, with the revised text by Philip Lutley Sclater. The work was commissioned by the Council of the Zoological Society in 1852, to provide "an accurate artistic record of the living form and expression of the many rare species of animals which exist from time to time in the Menagerie". The council chose Wolf, already well-known for his work for the ornithologist Rüpell and on Gould's Birds of Great Britain, and described by Landseer as "without exception, the best all-round animal painter that ever lived." The drawings were issued in monthly parts, with the accompanying temporary text for parts I-VII written by D. W. Mitchell, secretary to the society. On his death in 1859, Sclater undertook the completion of the work, selecting the subjects and writing both the temporary letterpress, and the permanent text which was issued with the thirteenth and final part. Anker 539; Fine Bird Books p. 115; Nissen IVB 1012; BMC N.H. p. 2349. (2)
2 volumes, 2° (558 x 420mm). Hand-coloured lithographic titles by V. Brooks, tinted lithographic title to second series, letterpress titles, list of subscribers, lists of plates, 100 hand-coloured lithographic plates by J. Smit after Wolf, mounted on card. (Occasional soiling, mainly marginal, title of volume II and a few text leaves in volume I torn.) Contemporary russia, gilt (covers detached, worn).
FIRST EDITION, with the revised text by Philip Lutley Sclater. The work was commissioned by the Council of the Zoological Society in 1852, to provide "an accurate artistic record of the living form and expression of the many rare species of animals which exist from time to time in the Menagerie". The council chose Wolf, already well-known for his work for the ornithologist Rüpell and on Gould's Birds of Great Britain, and described by Landseer as "without exception, the best all-round animal painter that ever lived." The drawings were issued in monthly parts, with the accompanying temporary text for parts I-VII written by D. W. Mitchell, secretary to the society. On his death in 1859, Sclater undertook the completion of the work, selecting the subjects and writing both the temporary letterpress, and the permanent text which was issued with the thirteenth and final part. Anker 539; Fine Bird Books p. 115; Nissen IVB 1012; BMC N.H. p. 2349. (2)