Sketches of the Wild Sports and Natural History of the Highlands

London: John Murray, 1878 . Cloth. Very Good. 8.5" by 6". Not Stated. The first illustrated edition of this nineteenth century Englishman's delightful work of observations about the Scottish Highlands. The first illustrated edition of this study of the Scottish highlands from English naturalist and sportsman Charles St. John. First published in 1846, this work forms a comprehensive study of the wilderness of the Scottish highlands, exploring hunting, trapping and poaching, along with a discussion of the nesting and feeding habits of the local wildlife.Illustrated throughout with vignette depictions of Scottish wildlife.To a front endpaper is the former owner's inscription of Leonard Harrison Matthews, a well regarded British zoologist, especially known for his research and writings on marine mammals. From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie was an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty of the Edwardian period. Impeccably connected, Pleydell-Bouverie was also the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, and rumoured to be a lover of King Edward VIII. A sparkling figure of fashionable society, her friends included Nancy Mitford, Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill, and Fred Astaire. This work is from the sale of Pleydell-Bouverie"s library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. She purchased the home in 1940, redesigning the interior and amassing an impressive library, featuring many examples of her own bookbinding. In the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. Bumping to spine head and tail. Former owner's inscription to front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages generally clean and bright, with the odd handling marks. Very Good