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The Natural History And Antiquities Of Selborne, In The County Of Southampton.To Which Are Added, The Naturalist's Calendar; Observations On Various Parts Of Nature; And Poems

by the Reverend Gilbert White

(White, Cochrane & Co. - New Edition, 1813)

Thank you for your interest but this book has now been sold

Asking Price: £225.00 (excl. post & packing)

A good New Edition copy of this early issue of the Reverend White's classic work still with its original half leather and marbled paper boards comprising two volumes bound as one. Published in May 1813 this Edition included two new plates; the Naturalist's Calendar and Observations On Various Parts Of Nature were also added here for the first time.

Part 1 comprises The Natural History Of Selborne and extends to page 301; Part 2 comprises The Antiquities Of Selborne, Appendix (in Latin, most pages still unopened with some neat antique word underlinings on pages 452-6), Naturalists Calendar, Observations on Birds, Quadrupeds, etc, Summary of the Weather, Poems and Index comprising pages 303 to 587 with list of plates on the plain reverse of the last page.

Inscribed on the front pastedown "Harriet Berners. Given me by Lord Berners November 3rd 1863" - Harriet Berners was probably Harriet Wilson wife of the Reverend Robert Wilson (b1801 youngest son of the 10th Lord Berners) and mother of Emma Harriet Wilson who became Baroness Berners; at the date of the inscription "Lord Berners" was Henry William Wilson (1797 - 1891), 11th Lord Berners and former President of the Royal Agricultural Society.

Book Condition - Good- / Fair+: Quarto hardback, x + 587 pages with eight full-page plates (including the hand coloured engraving of a Hybrid Bird), a wonderful folding view of Selborne and three engraved vignettes all confirmed present in good condition (some foxing and small edge tear to folding plate - no loss). Significant general wear and rubbing to the original marbled paper boards and leather spine, front board detached and rear board only just attached to top headband, text block still firmly bound, creasing to plain front and rear endpapers, all paper edges rough cut, a couple closed tears to the text pages (no loss), pressure marks to the bottom of pages 228-254 caused by loose piece of binding cord (still present between pages 250-1), otherwise internally generally very clean and clear with some light offsetting from the plates and occasional light foxing / soiling.

Overall an excellent very early printing of this important work in the same Quarto format as the 1789 First Edition with an interesting ownership pedigree and all pages and plates confirmed present.

Total weight with packaging just under 1.2Kg.

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The Natural History And Antiquities Of Selborne, In The County Of Southampton.To Which Are Added, The Naturalist's Calendar; Observations On Various Parts Of Nature; And Poems by the Reverend Gilbert White (White, Cochrane & Co. - New Edition, 1813)