J. G. Wood — The Illustrated Natural History

London, George Routledge & Sons, Limited. [1859-63]. Cloth. Three-volume set of Rev. J. G. Wood's hugely influential natural history guide, beautifully illustrated, in decorative cloth binding. In publisher's original decorative green and red cloth.In three volumes, consisting of Mammalia, Birds and Reptiles, Fishes, Molluscs, etc.Profusely illustrated by Wolf, Zwecker, Weir, Coleman, Harvey and others. Engraved by the Dalziel brothers, an accomplished wood-engraving business operating in London in the nineteenth century. Missing frontispiece to Reptiles, Fishes, Molluscs, etc. Frontispieces to Mammalia and Birds intact.Undated, dated from a copy held by the British Library.From significant English writer Reverend John George Wood, who popularised Natural History in the Victorian era with his accessible scientific works. His books have been referenced by the likes of Mark Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Similar titles of his include Common Objects of the Country and The Illustrated Natural History of Man. In publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, very good. Bumping and rubbing resulting in loss of cloth mainly to the joints and spine tips. Slight marking is visible to the spines and back boards. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages mostly bright and clean with spotting concentrated towards the first and last few pages. Missing frontispiece to Reptiles, Fishes, Molluscs, etc. Closed tear to the edge of the frontispiece of Birds. Dedication dated 1913 to the first page of Mammalia. Good . Ill.: Wolf, Zwecker, Weir, Coleman, Harvey, etc. etc. Good .