Description

8vo., Second Edition, with 13 woodcuts in the text, neat contemporary signature on front free endpaper verso; handsomely bound in early twentieth century half calf BY MUDIE, marbled boards, back with five raised bands ruled in gilt, second compartment with leather label lettered and ruled in gilt, third compartment with author's name in gilt, all other compartments tooled in gilt with a floral spray, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers, backstrip faded (but all gilt just legible) else a most attractive copy of a scarce work. The binding is signed on front free endpaper verso. The publisher's catalogue sometimes found at end has not been bound with this copy. The first printing of the first edition was in Vol. IX of the Journal of the Linnean Society of London (dated 1867 but issued in 1865). The present edition, the first in book form, is greatly revised and enlarged; Freeman notes that 1500 copies were printed. The woodcut illustrations are by George Darwin, the author's son. SCARCE. Freeman (Darwin), 220; Freeman (BNHB), 909.