Lot
236
FRASER, Louis (fl.1840-1860). Zoologica Typica, or figures of the new and rare animals and birds described in the proceedings, or exhibited in the collections of the Zoological Society of London, London: published by the Author, [1845-]1849. 2° (372 x 265mm). List of the 72 subscribers, hand-coloured lithographed additional title, 70 hand-coloured lithographed plates, some heightened with gum arabic, 7 apparently unsigned, the others by Charles Couzens, or H. N. Turner, all coloured by Mr. Triptree. (Light spotting to frontispiece and about 11 plates.) Contemporary red half morocco, spine in 6 compartments with raised bands, the bands highlighted by gilt and blind tooling, lettered in gilt in the second, marbled endpapers (light scuffing to extremities). Provenance: Robert James Shuttleworth (1810-1874, subscriber, armorial bookplate); Frederick Ducane Godman (1834-1919, armorial bookplate); A. J. Dearden (various inscriptions, one dated 1926 and noting that the book was bought for 'A.J.D' by 'J.W.D.' to form part of a 'Natural History Collection').
A FINE COPY OF THIS RARE WORK, AND APPARENTLY LIMITED TO 250 COPIES. The beautiful plates include 42 of birds and 28 of animals. A total of 46 bird species are pictured, the other animals including monkeys, large cats, deer, antelopes and squirrels. In an unusual step, 23 of the plants used in the images are also identified. The excellence of the colouring is tacitly acknowledged by the author who names the colourist in the preface: 'Mr. Triptree, of 6 Guildford Street, Walworth'. This 'well-known work of considerable scientific value' (Wood, p.348) was issued in parts from 1845, but as the author explains in his preface it was brought to an early close: 'When the present work was announced, it was my intention that it should appear at regular intervals, and be continued until it comprised figures of every new and rare Mammal and Bird described in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, of which figures had not appeared in any other publication; but several circumstances have conspired to render its appearance irregular, and to induce me to determine upon its close long prior to the completion of my original views.' These circumstances included Fraser's resignation as Curator of the Zoological Society, his participation in the Niger expedition of 1841-2, his subsequent appointment by Lord Derby as the temporary conservator at Knowsley, and, perhaps most important of all, the decision by the Zoological Society to include illustrations in their Proceedings from 1848 onwards. Anker 150; BM(NH) II,p.614; Fine Bird Books(1990) p.96; Nissen IVB 329; Wood p.348.
Estimate
GBP 3,000 - GBP 5,000
FRASER, Louis (fl.1840-1860). Zoologica Typica, or figures of the new and rare animals and birds described in the proceedings, or exhibited in the collections of the Zoological Society of London, London: published by the Author, [1845-]1849. 2° (372 x 265mm). List of the 72 subscribers, hand-coloured lithographed additional title, 70 hand-coloured lithographed plates, some heightened with gum arabic, 7 apparently unsigned, the others by Charles Couzens, or H. N. Turner, all coloured by Mr. Triptree. (Light spotting to frontispiece and about 11 plates.) Contemporary red half morocco, spine in 6 compartments with raised bands, the bands highlighted by gilt and blind tooling, lettered in gilt in the second, marbled endpapers (light scuffing to extremities). Provenance: Robert James Shuttleworth (1810-1874, subscriber, armorial bookplate); Frederick Ducane Godman (1834-1919, armorial bookplate); A. J. Dearden (various inscriptions, one dated 1926 and noting that the book was bought for 'A.J.D' by 'J.W.D.' to form part of a 'Natural History Collection').
A FINE COPY OF THIS RARE WORK, AND APPARENTLY LIMITED TO 250 COPIES. The beautiful plates include 42 of birds and 28 of animals. A total of 46 bird species are pictured, the other animals including monkeys, large cats, deer, antelopes and squirrels. In an unusual step, 23 of the plants used in the images are also identified. The excellence of the colouring is tacitly acknowledged by the author who names the colourist in the preface: 'Mr. Triptree, of 6 Guildford Street, Walworth'. This 'well-known work of considerable scientific value' (Wood, p.348) was issued in parts from 1845, but as the author explains in his preface it was brought to an early close: 'When the present work was announced, it was my intention that it should appear at regular intervals, and be continued until it comprised figures of every new and rare Mammal and Bird described in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, of which figures had not appeared in any other publication; but several circumstances have conspired to render its appearance irregular, and to induce me to determine upon its close long prior to the completion of my original views.' These circumstances included Fraser's resignation as Curator of the Zoological Society, his participation in the Niger expedition of 1841-2, his subsequent appointment by Lord Derby as the temporary conservator at Knowsley, and, perhaps most important of all, the decision by the Zoological Society to include illustrations in their Proceedings from 1848 onwards. Anker 150; BM(NH) II,p.614; Fine Bird Books(1990) p.96; Nissen IVB 329; Wood p.348.