Synopsis of the Natural History of Great-Britain and Ireland. Containing a Systematic Arrangement and Concise Description of all the Animals, Vegetables, and Fossils, which have hitherto been discovered in these Kingdoms. Vol. I-II

Description:

Third edition of The Outlines, &c. corrected and considerably enlarged. Vol. I: The Animal and Fossil Kingdoms; Vol. II: The Vegetable Kingdom.

An early Linnaean compendium of British flora and fauna. First published under the title Outlines of the Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland (1769-1772), this classic work was intended to serve as a practical, accessible reference for naturalists. 'At the time of publication this was undoubtedly an authoritative treatise on the British fauna and flora, giving under the Linnean and English names of each species a clear concise desciption together with the type of locality in which it could be found. In the section dealing with Lepidoptera details of the larvae and food plants are also given.' (Lisney, 1960). It stands historically as one of the very earliest works to fully popularize and implement the modern Linnaean system of binomial nomenclature in the English language. In his Preface to this third edition, Berkenhout champions the Swedish naturalist, declaring that 'the Linnaean System of Nature is now too universally adopted to require any defence or apology: if it be not the most natural, it is doubtless the most convenient.'

John Berkenhout (1726-1791) was a remarkably versatile, eighteenth-century polymath who balanced a colourful career as a Prussian and British military officer, an American Revolutionary War diplomatic secret agent, and a Leiden-educated medical doctor. He became a pioneering figure in British science by publishing several highly successful, accessible reference works designed to introduce English naturalists and students to Linnaean taxonomy.

Freeman 296; Lisney 272 & 275.

Condition

2 vols, small 8vo (186x120mm), contemporary tree calf, decorative gilt-tooled border to boards, gilt rules to spines, red leather title pieces. Minor rubbing to extremities. Internally very clean. An attractively bound set.