Lot 05

Thomas Pennant (1726 - 1798) BRITISH ZOOLOGY

Thomas Pennant (1726-1798) was a Welsh biologist, traveler, collector and writer, a renowned expert on many disciplines. "British Zoology" is one of his major works, presented here in the 4th extended edition. The first volume is dedicated to mammals and birds, 2. mostly waterfowl, 3. fish, snakes and amphibians, 4. crustaceans, snails, mussels, crayfish. Five engraved title pages, 280 (of which 3 folded) copperplate plates, 1 folded sheet and 1 text copperplate. Boards below places authored by Pailla, Desmoulins, Griffith in the performance of the highly acclaimed Irish engraver, Peter Mazell's science specialists (active 1761-1797). They are a faithful and at the same time very decorative depiction of species set in their landscape with a nominal description in the title of the engraving. Good contrasting prints, wide leaf edges, everything clean. The period light all-leather binding with 2 colored labels on the spine, their gilded description and gilded edges of the plates, as well as the book block, is in a very good condition.