The New Naturalists

HarperCollins, London, first edition, 1995. Laminated illustrated wrappers, 8vo,. 304 pp, 16 colour plates and over 100 black-and-white ills. A Guide to the famous and much-collected "New Naturalists" series. From the blurb: "with this book, the Collins New Naturalist Library reaches its half- centenary. Many of the titles in the series have become natural history classics, and played an important part in shaping and informing a popular interest in British natural history and conservation. The idea for the series came from a belief that the latest scientific research, written by the leading experts in their field, would be welcomed by the lay reader so long as it was written and presented in an attractive way. This belief was vindicated when the first book, Butterflies by E. B. Ford, became an instant bestseller on its publication in 1945. The New Naturalists reveals for the first time the behind-the-bookshelf story of the New Naturalist Library: who the authors were and what they did; how each title was conceived and received; the much admired jackets; and the trials, tribulations and triumphs of what has been described as the most significant and long-running natural history series in the world. Above all, The New Naturalists is a celebration of a natural history golden age, when field naturalists and scientific ecologists were able to combine their skills to produce an era of discovery that will probably never be equalled. Very Good. 50th anniversary sticker on front wrapper (as issued).