[NATURAL HISTORY]. SWAINSON, William John (1789-1855). Zoological Illustrations, or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Interesting Animals... London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1820-1833.
6 volumes, 8vo (241 x 140 mm; 248 x 152 mm). 318 hand-colored lithographic plates. (Spotting throughout, embossed stamps on all plates.) First Series: Contemporary half morocco, marbled boards, gilt edges (extremities rubbed, call numbers gilt-stamped on spines); Second Series: Original? quarter roan, drab boards, call numbers gilt-stamped on spine, upper cover detached and spine partially perished on the Shells volume). Provenance: Worcester Public Library (bookplate, embossed stamps on title-pages, plates, and text leaves).
ONE OF THE EARLIEST NATURAL HISTORY PUBLICATIONS TO FEATURE HAND-COLORED LITHOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS.
FIRST EDITION, combining the first and second series. Swainson was a British naturalist and illustrator known for his contributions to zoology and the use of the then-new art of lithography, in scientific illustration. His adoption of lithographic printing, rather than traditional engraving, allowed for more efficient and detailed reproductions of natural history subjects. Nissen IVB 911.
Property from the Estate of Peter Fortsas
![[NATURAL HISTORY]. SWAINSON, William John (1789-1855). Zoological Illustrations, or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Interesting Animals... London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1820-1833.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/c9633032-1cc5-4123-99b3-1f51a78e3bd7?format=auto&width=1080&quality=75)
![[NATURAL HISTORY]. SWAINSON, William John (1789-1855). Zoological Illustrations, or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Interesting Animals... London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1820-1833.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/d3df0289-0b89-4692-8edf-418f5d45dd06?format=auto&width=1080&quality=75)
![[NATURAL HISTORY]. SWAINSON, William John (1789-1855). Zoological Illustrations, or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Interesting Animals... London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1820-1833.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/8736591f-2137-44f8-a855-4561c2cf5028?format=auto&width=1080&quality=75)