A Modern System of Natural History: Containing accurate descriptions, and faithful histories, of animals, vegetables, and minerals. Together with Their Properties, and various Uses in Medicine, Mechanics, Manufactures, &c. [title continued below]:

[title continued]: Illustrated With a great Variety of Copper-Plates, accurately drawn from Nature, and beautifully engraved. Only edition. A very uncommon work for children, which is thought to be the first such compilation to include a reference to the kangaroo: "Mr. Banks brought home the skin of an animal, which he calls the kanguroo." [Vol.3, p. 172]. 11 volumes (of 12) lacking volume 6 , all with general title-pages, the volumes following the mammals [vol. 1-4] have general & individual title-pages, thus volumes 5, 7, & 8 are The Natural History of Birds, or a complete System of Ornithology; volumes 9 & 10 are volumes 1 & 2 of The Natural History of Fishes; volume 11 is Reptiles and Insects (wrongly lettered "Vol.1" & vol. 12 is The Natural History of Waters, Earths, Fossils, and Minerals. 108 engraved plates, offsetting of text to some plates. 11 volumes duodecimo (5 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches), 2-pages of advertisements at the ends of volumes 3 & 12: "Books printed for F.Newberry, the Corner of St. Paul's Church-yard for the use of Young Ladies and Gentlemen" & "Entertaining Books for Children printed for F.Newberry at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-yard Ludgate St." Contemporary full tan calf, spines floral gilt with lettering and numbering pieces. rubbed, headbands chipped, lacking partly or wholly 9 lettering/ or numbering pieces but overall sound. Engraved armorial bookplate of Thomas Hawes on front pastedown of the firsr 3 volunes, 2 partially removed.…