Animal Life of the British Isles

Publication: London and New York, Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1927 Formatting: Sm. 8vo, N/A. Condition Report Very Good. The binding remains securely tight and square, presented in the publisher's original textured olive cloth. The gilt tooling to the upper board and spine is remarkably bright and unoxidised, avoiding the dulling often seen in surviving titles from this series. The extremities show only gentle signs of shelf-wear, limited to minor rubbing at the spine ends and lightly bumped corners. The text block edges display moderate foxing, which occasionally bleeds into the preliminary leaves and endpapers; however, the internal pages remain largely crisp and clean, with sound hinges and vibrant plates. A neat, contemporary previous ownership date of '1927' is inscribed to the front free endpaper, serving as a factual and unobtrusive artifact of early provenance. Catalogue Note This is a highly presentable early printing, specifically the Third Impression of 1927, of Edward Stepâs comprehensive contribution to Frederick Warneâs collectibleÂWayside and Woodland series. The volume is profusely illustrated, boasting 111 plates from photographs, 48 of which were beautifully prepared in colour by W. J. Stokoe. While this title was widely circulated, early printings that successfully retain such sharp, untarnished gilt blocking to the publisher's original binding have become increasingly difficult to source on the open market, presenting an excellent opportunity for collectors of early twentieth-century British natural history. A classic of early twentieth-century British nature writing, Animal Life of the British Isles offers a comprehensive and charmingly detailed pocket guide to the native mammals, reptiles, and amphibians of the UK. Beautifully illustrated with a mix of vivid colour plates and crisp photographs, Edward Stepâs engaging text brings the hidden life of the British countryside to the forefront. It stands today as both an essential field companion of its era and a delightful, nostalgic window into the natural history of the 1920s.…