The Life and Habits of Wild Animals.
Engraved by J. W. & Edward Whymper. With Descriptive Letter-Press by Daniel Giraud Elliot.
London: Alexander Macmillan & Co., 1874 Stock Code: 120461
First edition, large paper issue. Wolf's "pictures are often noted for the astonishing realism of feet, fur, and feather texture, and for their backgrounds, which often include small but perfectly painted subsidiary creatures bickering or otherwise associating in a lively fashion. In the opinion of Sir Edwin Landseer he was 'without exception, the best all-round animal painter that ever lived' (Schulze-Hagen, 1)" (ODNB). The text was provided by the American zoologist Daniel Giraud Elliot, scientific founder of the American Museum of Natural History in 1869, who commissioned Wolf for a number of illustrated zoological works. The engravings in this work were provided by the wood-engraver and mountaineer Edward Whymper.
Description
Folio (468 x 346 mm). Original crushed red morocco over bevelled boards, spine lettered in gilt, decorative frames to covers blocked in blind and gilt, turn-ins and edges gilt, marbled endpapers, blue silk bookmark.
Illustrations
With 20 engraved plates.
Condition
Faint pencil gift inscription to head of title page. Slight wear to extremities, spine lightly toned, a couple of abrasions and small marks to covers, shallow indentation to rear cover, light foxing to prelims and endmatter; a very good, bright copy.
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