Essays upon Natural History, and other miscellaneous Subjects, ... to which is added, a Catalogue in generical Order, of the Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Insects, Plants, &c. contained in Mr. Edwards' Natural History

Description:

First edition. Scarce. Portrait frontispiece of Edwards, engraved by J. Miller after Isaac Gosset. George Edwards (1694-1773) was an English naturalist and ornithologist, and his seven-volume work, A Natural History of Uncommon Birds (1743-1751) and Gleanings of Natural History (1758-1764), with a total of 362 hand-coloured engraved plates, mostly of birds, was considered one of the most important works on natural history of the 18th century. The current work is described in the Preface as follows: 'The greatest part of the following Essays have already appeared before the public in Mr. Edwards' Natural History, but in a detached and unconnected form, and at an expence perhaps rather too great for many who delight in Natural History. It was therefore to accommodate such, and to assist the curious in their researches, or any future writer upon this subject, that the editor has been induced to this publication'. Among the various essays are 'A receipt for taking the Figures of Butterflies on Paper', an early description of the preparation of nature prints from the wings of butterflies using gummed paper.

Condition

8vo, rebound in recent antique-style half calf, raised bands, gilt rules and motifs to spine compartments, marbled boards, endpapers and edges, occasional light foxing. Vg. Signature of 'Will. Forsyth 1803', to verso of title page. William Forsyth (1737-1804) was a Scottish botanist, royal head gardener and founding member of the Royal Horticultural Society. The genus Forsythia is named after him.