Yarrell Bell (3 results)

Condition: Fine. xxxviii, 408, iv, 48; [iv], 472, 72; xiv, 732; xviii, 526, xxiv, 142; xxxii, 525, [1]; [iv], 669, [1]; [iv], 528, 53, [1], numerous wood engravings. . HB. 8 vols bound in 7, imp. 8vo (282x195mm), uniformly bound in cont. full morocco by Clarke & Bedford, raised bands to spines, rich gilt-tooling to borders, spine compartments and turn-ins, double gilt fillet to board edges, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Very minor rubbing to extemities. Some foxing to endpapers and flyleaves, occasional spotting elsewhere, but generally very clean. An exceptionally fine set. Several volumes with the armorial bookplate of Ernald Lane. A fine, uniformly bound, large paper (imperial 8vo) set of first editions. William Yarrell's Birds (1843) and Fishes (1836) both with the Supplements (1839 and 1845 respectively); Thomas Bell's Quadrupeds (1837) and Reptiles (1839); T.R. Jones' Animal Kingdom (1841). These works were early volumes in a series on British natural history, published by John Van Voorst. Illustrated by numerous charming wood engravings and vignettes. The more sumptuous 'large paper' editions are more desirable and much scarcer than the standard editions. Freeman states that only 50 copies of the imperial octavo edition of Bell's two works were produced, and numbers of the other volumes are likely to have been similarly limited.Freeman 4176, 267, 268, 2026, 4177.

First editions; 6 vols, imperial 8vo (27 x 17.5 cm); wood engravings throughout; a little light spotting to the endpapers and occasional isolated spots to contents, but overall a clean set; uniformly bound in green morocco by Hayday, spines gilt in compartments, gilt fillets to boards and turn-ins, all edges gilt; just the occasional light scuff or rubbed area to bindings, very good condition. A handsomely bound imperial octavo set, all first editions, of Yarrell's copiously illustrated British Birds and Fishes, including the supplement to the fishes, together with Bell's Quadrupeds and Reptiles. William Yarrell (1784-1856) was a respected zoologist. 'About 1823, he began to note the occurrence and appearance of rare birds and, by 1825, was sending specimens to the artist Thomas Bewick (1753â"1828), after whom he was to name a new species of swan. He also took a great interest in the contents of poultry and fish shops and markets. By 1825 he had assembled considerable natural history collections, notably one of birds' eggs (including the egg of a great auk). These collections included a great number of specimens collected by himself, for one of his strengths lay in careful dissection and preparation' (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). 'Between 1835 and 1836 Yarrell published serially his two-volume work A History of British Fishes, which was very favourably reviewed. In this work he paid particular attention to species that were a source of food, and he would often eat the specimens he collected to test whether they might be added to those known to be fit for the table. In 1843 Van Voorst published Yarrell's second book, The History of British Birds, in three volumes. These two histories were the prototype of a series of books by other writers, mostly dealing with invertebrates, published by Van Voorst' (ODNB). Thomas Bell (1792-1880) was, in addition to a zoologist, one of the pioneers of dentistry in Britain. 'He was responsible for innovations in the use of various dental instruments and was the first to treat teeth as living structures by applying scientific surgery to dental disease' (ODNB). He was a professor of zoology at King's College and a member of the Linnean Society, and was responsible for the descriptions of the reptiles collected during the voyage of the Beagle. Freeman 4176, 4177, 267, & 268.

Condition: molto buono. 8 voll. in-8, attraente uniforme leg. inglese del tempo in p. vitello avana con riquadri e fregi oro sui piatti, dorsi a nervi con filetti oro e duplice tass. per i tit., dentelle int., tagli marmorizz. Magnifico assieme di 5 opere, tutte in prima edizione, sugli animali della Gran Bretagna, riccamente illustrate da oltre 1500 fini incisioni in legno di testa n.t. - I) YARRELL, W. A history of British fishes, illustrated by nearly 400 woodcuts; 2 vol., pp. XXXVII, (3), 408, 48; (2), 472, 72. - II) YARRELL, W. A history of British Birds, illustrated by 520 wood-engravings; 3 vol., pp. XXXII, 526; (2), 670; (2), 528. - III) BELL, Th. A history of British Quadrupeds, illustrated by nearly 200 woodcuts; 1 vol., pp. XVIII, 526. - IV) BELL, Th. A history of British Reptiles, illustrated by more than forty woodcuts; 1 vol., pp. XXIV, 142. - V) RYMER JONES, Th. A general outline of the Animal Kingdom, and manual of comparative anatomy, illustrated by three hundred and thirty-six engravings; 1 vol., pp. XIV, (2), 732. Perfetto stato. Nissen registra solo: British Fishes (col. 442) e Quadrupeds (col. 38). Book.