Entomology in Sport, and Entomology in Earnest; by The Honorable Mrs W[ard] & Lady M[ahon]

Description:

Rare. Charming whimsical book, 'intended, not so much for the scientific, as for the young or the comparatively uninstructed reader. The authors have therefore aimed at making them entertaining, rather than complete or systematic; an agreeable bait, in short, by means of which unwary youth may find themselves caught in the meshes of science, while seeking only for amusement.' - Preface.

Freeman 3881.

Mary Ward [the Hon. Mrs Ward] (1827-1869) was a microscopist and author, an important 19th century popularizer of science who did much to encourage an interest in the natural world and to stimulate the advances in science and technology that marked the industrial revolution. The present book was written in collaboration with her sister, Lady Jane Mahon. (ODNB)

Condition

Attractive hand-coloured lithographed frontis, title and dedication, together with 35 hand-coloured vignettes in the text, 8vo, orig. dec. cloth, a little rubbed to extremities; intricate gilt design to front cover, blind stamped to rear, aeg; recased, new endpapers; housed in a recent purpose-made, cloth-covered slip-case. Margins lightly thumbed in places. Vg. From the library of Paul Sokoloff (1948-2012) with his book-plate to endpaper.