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Sold by order of the Trustees of the Firle Estate Settlement
CATESBY, Mark (1682-1749)
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects and Plants ... by the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revis'd by Mr Edwards. London: Printed for C. Marsh, T. Wilcox and B. Stichall, 1754.
Details
CATESBY, Mark (1682-1749)
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects and Plants ... by the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revis'd by Mr Edwards. London: Printed for C. Marsh, T. Wilcox and B. Stichall, 1754.
'The most famous colour-plate book of American plant and animal life [...] A fundamental and original work for the study of American species' (Hunt): a fine copy of the second edition. It is also the earliest coloured book on American birds.
Catesby as a young man studied the Natural Sciences in London, and in 1712 set off for Virginia, returning in 1719 with an extensive collection of plants. This collection attracted the attention of Sir Hans Sloane, who helped fund Catesby on his second trip to Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Bahamas from 1722 to 1729. Back in London he prepared his Natural History of the region, drawing a new map from his own knowledge, and engraving the majority of the plates to reduce the costs of the venture. The first edition was issued by Catesby in parts, being completed by 1747. Its popularity was such that a second edition was required within five years of his death, undertaken by George Edwards. In this copy it is interesting to note that the descriptive text accompanying the first 20 plates in volume II, were misnumbered p.121-140 and have been corrected by hand, perhaps suggesting a different order was planned for the plates. 'Mark Catesby made a valuable and important contribution to ornithological illustration. He was confident enough to break new ground - to portray his birds more naturally than before, with foliage backgrounds, and to adopt the folio format. He depicted the natural history of one area in its entirety, and often drew from living models […] as his was the earliest published natural history of a part of the New World, he has been called the father of American ornithology' (Jackson). A fine copy, all plates fresh and clean and finely coloured. Dunthorne 72; Fine Bird Books (1990) p.86; Great Flower Books (1990) p.85-86; Hunt 486 (first edition); Jackson Etchings 76-87; Nissen BBI 336; Nissen IVB 177; Nissen ZBI 842; Pritzel 1602. Anker 95.
2 volumes, large folio (522 x 354mm). Titles printed in red and black, titles and text in French and English, text in double column, dedications to the Queen and the Princess of Wales both placed at beginning of vol. 1, hand-coloured double-page engraved map, 220 hand-coloured engraved plates, by and after Catesby (plate 90 printed before letters), first 20 text pages of volume II with page numbers altered to 1-20 from 120-140, letterpress correction of 'DU' in imprint of French text on titles, text with woodcut ornamental initials, the 44 pp. 'An Account of Carolina', with engraved ornamental head-piece with Native American paraphernalia, bound in volume I (closed tear in blank margin of text leaves I1, and Bb1 in volume one, and in Pp1 and third leaf of index in volume two, both into text with no loss, plates 14 and 15 bound in the wrong order, inverted, very minor marginal spotting to some text leaves, the occasional marginal dust mark). Contemporary mottled calf, sides with double gilt ruled border filled with gilt roll and small acorn tools, fleurons gilt to corners, spines with raised bands in seven compartments gilt, black morocco lettering-pieces, all edges red (spine rebacked to match with original labels laid down, corners restored, lightly rubbed at extremities). Provenance: George Nassau Clavering-Cowper, 3rd Earl Cowper (1738-1789; engraved armorial bookplates with motto 'Tuum est’ on pastedowns).
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects and Plants ... by the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revis'd by Mr Edwards. London: Printed for C. Marsh, T. Wilcox and B. Stichall, 1754.
'The most famous colour-plate book of American plant and animal life [...] A fundamental and original work for the study of American species' (Hunt): a fine copy of the second edition. It is also the earliest coloured book on American birds.
Catesby as a young man studied the Natural Sciences in London, and in 1712 set off for Virginia, returning in 1719 with an extensive collection of plants. This collection attracted the attention of Sir Hans Sloane, who helped fund Catesby on his second trip to Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Bahamas from 1722 to 1729. Back in London he prepared his Natural History of the region, drawing a new map from his own knowledge, and engraving the majority of the plates to reduce the costs of the venture. The first edition was issued by Catesby in parts, being completed by 1747. Its popularity was such that a second edition was required within five years of his death, undertaken by George Edwards. In this copy it is interesting to note that the descriptive text accompanying the first 20 plates in volume II, were misnumbered p.121-140 and have been corrected by hand, perhaps suggesting a different order was planned for the plates. 'Mark Catesby made a valuable and important contribution to ornithological illustration. He was confident enough to break new ground - to portray his birds more naturally than before, with foliage backgrounds, and to adopt the folio format. He depicted the natural history of one area in its entirety, and often drew from living models […] as his was the earliest published natural history of a part of the New World, he has been called the father of American ornithology' (Jackson). A fine copy, all plates fresh and clean and finely coloured. Dunthorne 72; Fine Bird Books (1990) p.86; Great Flower Books (1990) p.85-86; Hunt 486 (first edition); Jackson Etchings 76-87; Nissen BBI 336; Nissen IVB 177; Nissen ZBI 842; Pritzel 1602. Anker 95.
2 volumes, large folio (522 x 354mm). Titles printed in red and black, titles and text in French and English, text in double column, dedications to the Queen and the Princess of Wales both placed at beginning of vol. 1, hand-coloured double-page engraved map, 220 hand-coloured engraved plates, by and after Catesby (plate 90 printed before letters), first 20 text pages of volume II with page numbers altered to 1-20 from 120-140, letterpress correction of 'DU' in imprint of French text on titles, text with woodcut ornamental initials, the 44 pp. 'An Account of Carolina', with engraved ornamental head-piece with Native American paraphernalia, bound in volume I (closed tear in blank margin of text leaves I1, and Bb1 in volume one, and in Pp1 and third leaf of index in volume two, both into text with no loss, plates 14 and 15 bound in the wrong order, inverted, very minor marginal spotting to some text leaves, the occasional marginal dust mark). Contemporary mottled calf, sides with double gilt ruled border filled with gilt roll and small acorn tools, fleurons gilt to corners, spines with raised bands in seven compartments gilt, black morocco lettering-pieces, all edges red (spine rebacked to match with original labels laid down, corners restored, lightly rubbed at extremities). Provenance: George Nassau Clavering-Cowper, 3rd Earl Cowper (1738-1789; engraved armorial bookplates with motto 'Tuum est’ on pastedowns).
Brought to you by
Eugenio Donadoni
Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts