The Naturalist's Library: Ichthyology: British Fishes

Complete set of all two volumes on British Fish from Sir William Jardine's ambitious Victorian series The Naturalist's Library

With all 72 steel engravings (68 handcoloured plates, 2 b/w title vignettes and 2 b/w portraits) engraved by Scottish engraver William Lizars after illustrations by James Stewart

Most fish are depicted lying on the seashore having been caught by fishermen, and include many edible species such as perch, mackerel, seabream, salmon, trout, halibut, sole, etc. Includes the critically endangered European eel, angel shark, eagle ray and school shark, along with endangered bramble shark, vendace, basking shark, etc.

Ichthyology Vol. IV, British Fishes, Vol. I, Robert Hamilton, 36 steel engraved plates by James Stewart, portrait of Rondeletius, 1843 (but with Pl. 1-23 only)

Ichthyology Vol. VI, British Fishes, Vol. II, Robert Hamilton, 36 steel engraved plates by James Stewart, portrait of Baron Humboldt, 1843 (with Pl. 24-34 from Vol. I bound before Pl. I-34 of Vol. 2)

Sir William Jardine (1800-1874) was a Scottish naturalist. He is best known for writing and editing the 40-volume series of natural history books, The Naturalist's Library from 1833 to 1866. "In addition to the description and depiction (mostly finely coloured plates) by various well-known contributors to almost the whole range of the subject, the series is supplemented by biographies of famous naturalists of all times and all countries. It is well described as a remarkable little library of early nineteenth zoology, as well as a brief account of the lives of the chief zoologists of all time." (Casey Wood)

Robert Hamilton was a Scottish physician. He joined the Wernerian Natural History Society, a group of Edinburgh zoologists, biologists and surgeons, in 1822 and later rose to become its Vice President.

In burgundy leather with five raised bands, gilt titles on spine, leather darkened on spine, marble boards rubbed, book blocks solid. Armorial bookplate of the Scottish landowners Mackenzie-Gillanders of Highfield (Muir of Ord) on front endpaper of both volumes. Interior clean and fresh with little toning, all steel plates under tissue guards with delicate handcolour.

Very good set of the British fish section of the series.