The naturalist s cabinet: containing interesting sketches of animal history; illustrative of the natures, dispositions, manners, and habits, of all the most remarkable quadrupeds, birds, fishes, amphibia, reptiles, &c. in the known world. regularly arranged, and enriched with numerous beautiful engravings . In four [i.e., six] volumes

Smith, Thomas

Published by Albion Press printed: James Dundee, Ive-Lane, Paternoster-Row, published by James Cundee, London, 1806

About this Item

First edition, the octavo issue (there was also an issue in duodecimo), bound from the original 50 parts (stab holes evident); 6 volumes, 8vo, containing 6 engraved frontispieces, 6 engraved vignette title pages, 52 engraved plates and 34 wood-engraved vignettes; original blue paper-covered boards, gray-brown paper shelfback, printed paper labels on spines; labels rubbed, boards a little soiled, a few small cracks starting at the joints, but generally a good, sound set, or better, internally clean. The caption titles to the full-page plates, and their page positioning, do not always correspond to the titles and placing given in the "Directions to the Binder for Placing the Cuts" (volume VI, pp. 355-56). The Directions to the Binder lists 66 engravings. Two are missing from this particular set, namely: volume III, 322 - Golden-breasted Trumpeter; and volume VI, 76, Black Snake. There is no evidence of either plate having been inserted (and removed); the second location, III, 322, is part of an unopened gathering. The work seems to have been published in 50 numbers (see the advertisements at the back of volume VI), and then gathered up and bound in six boarded volumes. The watermark of 1814 on the front and rear endpapers of volume V suggests this was done eight years after the early numbers appeared in 1806. The plate publication dates are mainly from early 1806, but a few run into early 1807. Many of the plates are keyed to episodes in the accompanying text. Large portions of the text are unopened; those that are obviously reflect reader interest.

Seller Inventory # 67078

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The naturalist s cabinet: containing interesting sketches of animal history; illustrative of the natures, dispositions, manners, and habits, of all the most remarkable quadrupeds, birds, fishes, amphibia, reptiles, &c. in the known world. regularly arranged, and enriched with numerous beautiful engravings . In four [i.e., six] volumes
• Publisher: Albion Press printed: James Dundee, Ive-Lane, Paternoster-Row, published by James Cundee, London
• Publication Date: 1806
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • Natural History
  • English Literature