40 volumes, 8vo (165 x 105 mm). Frontispieces, additional engraved title-pages with vignettes, OVER 1200 MOSTLY HAND-COLORED ENGRAVED PLATES. Original red cloth gilt (rebacked in red calf, some rubbing to fore-corners). Provenance: Unidentified ownership signature dated 1848.

A COMPLETE SET IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH of this comprehensive work overseen by the Scottish naturalist William Jardine. A mixed set containing the reissued "People's Edition", and "back volumes of the First Edition" (vol. I prospectus). The Naturalist's Library was Jardine's greatest achievement as it made natural history available to all facets of Victorian society which proved popular and accessible. Jardine was also the first to coin the term "ichnology" and the first to write a book on the subject. His personal library and museum of natural history was known as the finest in Britain at the time. Nissen ZBI 4708; Wood 405; Ayer/Zimmer 223-228.