Jardine, William | A handsome set of The Naturalist's Library

From the Library of Jay Michael Haft

Jardine, William

The Naturalist's Library. Edinburgh: W.H. Lizars, 1836, 1843

40 vols., 8vo (161 x 100 mm). Frontispieces, title-pages, additional engraved title-pages with vignettes, over 1200 mostly hand-colored engraved plates; a few small repaired marginal tears, scattered foxing, occasional light offsetting, trimmed with only occasional minimal loss to plates, annotations to tables of contents in pencil. In uniform full green morocco, spines with raised bands in 6 compartments, second and fourth compartments with red morocco labels lettered in gilt, others with repeat gilt motif, boards ruled in gilt, inside dentelles gilt, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers; rubbed at extremities.

Sold not subject to return.

A handsome, mixed issue set of this encyclopedic work. All but one volume are from the 1843 issue, with the outlier being the "Parrots" volume from the 1836 issue.

Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet of Applegarth, was a Scottish naturalist, was elected fellow of numerous societies, including the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Society of Antiquaries. After studying medicine at Edinburgh University, Jardine's interests turned to botany, geology, ornithology, and other branches of the natural sciences. Jardine coined the term "ichnology," and was the first to author a book on the subject. His private natural history museum and library were reputed to be the finest in Britain at the time. 

Jardine greatest achievement may have been making natural history available to all facets of Victorian society through The Naturalist's Library. Issued and published by his brother in law, the Edinburgh printer and engraver, William Home Lizars, the series proved popular and accessible. It also counted John Ray, Thomas Bewick, Prideaux John Selby, and many other giant among its contributors.

REFERENCE:

Nissen ZBI 4708; Wood 405; Zimmer 326