North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club Annual Report and Transactions Vol. 1-93 / North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Vol. 1-12 / North Staffordshire Field Club Transactions (New Series) Vol. 1-28

Description:

The North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club was founded in 1865. Its mission was stated as 'the practical study of Natural History in all its branches, and the cultivation of a fuller knowledge of the antiquities in the neighbourhood’. The First Annual Meeting, held on March 23rd, 1866, included subjects such as archaeology, geology, palaeontology, industrial history, folklore and local history. The Club issued their first periodical publication, 'North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club Annual Report' in 1866, and from 1888 published an Annual Report and Transactions, which continued until the 93rd Report in 1960. No Report was published for the year 1897. A combined Index was issued for years 1866 to 1898. From 1961 the Transactions were incorporated into the new 'North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies', published by Keele University College. This journal ceased publication in 1975, and from 1976 to 2003, the journal appeared again under the title 'The North Staffordshire Field Club Transactions (New Series)', of which 28 volumes were published. The final issue appeared in 2003.

The first president of the Club from 1865-1870 was James Bateman (1811-1897), an industrialist and banker, best known for his works on orchids. He sponsored expeditions to Mexico and South America enabling collectors to gather rare specimens. The Rev. Thomas W. Daltry (1832-1904), vicar of Madeley in Staffordshire, was a prominent member of the Club and served as Secretary and Chairman of the Entomological section for 39 years, up to his death. He was author of 'List of the Lepidoptera of North Staffordshire'. Another early member and vice-president, was William Henry Goss (1833-1906), a potter notable for having started the souvenir trade in pottery. An essential part of the club was the library, and Henrietta Lucy Elizabeth Garbett (1883-1939) served as a librarian for 18 years. This exceptional journal run includes interesting papers relating to Staffordshire and other parts of Britain and also a provides a fascinating insight into the organisation and social history of an active field club.

Condition

A rare complete run bound in 59 vols, 8vo/lge-8vo: 36 vols bound in later qtr calf, marbled boards (bound by A. Portuense, Porto, Portugal); 11 vols in recent half-calf, original wrappers retained for Vols. 1-13, which are bound in a single volume; 18 vols in qtr buckram, marbled boards; final two parts in wrappers as issued. The Annual Report for 1868 is a reprint from 1896. Some marginal pencil annotations, occasional light foxing. Also included here are the following three additional volumes published by the Society: 'North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club Annual addresses, papers, etc' (1875); 'Coming of Age of the North Sttafordshire Naturalists' Field Club and Archaelogical Society 1865-1885 - Chronological History and Bibliography of the Society' (1886), compiled by Rupert Simms; 'The North Sttaforshire Field Club Jubilee volume 1865-1915' (1916).