Herbert Mace; J.M. Dunning; D'Arcy Chapman; Karl von Frisch [ed. by Nathaniel Tarn] — Books on Bees

London; Oxford, Hutchinson and Co.; Kingsgate Press; Basil Blackwell; Jonathan Cape, 1921-1968. First edition. Cloth. A lovely little set on Bees, largely concerning their behaviours, their scientific attributes and their important role in our ecosystem. A lovely little group of works on bees, the beloved winged insect that remains a staple of our ecosystem. Four volumes published between 1921-1968.A Book About the Bee, written by beekeeping expert Herbert Mace,  a comprehensive guide delving into their personality and behaviours, as well as hive economy and their natural competitors. (In the publisher's original cloth, with a frontispiece and all twenty other illustrations. Collated complete. Rear of book contains publisher's original advertisements. Hutchinson and Co. 1921, first edition).The Key of the Hive, written by J.M. Dunning, focusing on the habits and products of the honey bee. (In the publisher's original yellow cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Contains a frontispiece, and all sixteen other illustrated plates. Collated complete. Kingsgate Press, 1945, first edition).A Honey-Bee and Her Master, written by scientist D'arcy Chapman, a book aimed for young bee keepers that brings together knowledge on nature, hygiene and entomology. (In the publisher's original cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Contains numerous in-text illustrations. Basil Blackwell, 1947, a reprint, first published in 1946).Bees: Their Vision, Chemical Senses, and Language, written by Nobel Prize winning ethologist Karl von Frisch, a reissue of his influential work on the scientific behaviours of bees. (In the publisher's original paper wraps, in the original yellow unclipped dust wrapper. Contains nineteen plates from his experiments and numerous in-text illustrations. Collated complete. Jonathan Cape, 1968. First published in 1950. No. 12 in the Cape Editions edited by Nathaniel Tarn). In the publisher's original cloth (Mace, Dunning, Chapman) and paper wraps (Frisch). Externally, smart, with minimal marks to Mace and Chapman boards. Dunning has the small faint mark to the front board. Slight fading to the spines of Frisch and Mace, and to the top edge of Dunning front board. Minor bumping to the heads and tails of the spine, and to the extremities of Chapman and Dunning, slightly heavier to Mace. Marginal rubbing to joints, slightly heavier to Mace, and creasing to front joint of Frisch. Dust wrappers of Frisch, Chapman and Dunning are generally bright and clean, with the odd mark and spot to Chapman and Dunning, mostly to wrapper spine and rear wrapper of Chapman, heavier to Dunning and to the front wrapper. Frisch has faint signs of browning to joints of wrapper and slight fading to wrapper spine. Signs of edgewear to wrappers of Dunning and Chapman, with small chips to heads and tails of wrapper spines and the occasional small closed tear to edges. Minor chips to wrapper joints of Dunning, and a larger chip to front wrapper near head of spine. A couple of small tape strips to rear wrapper of Dunning. End papers of Frisch are bright and clean, with the faint odd spot to end papers of Chapman and Dunning, and offsetting to free end papers of Mace. Internally, firmly bound, with minor wear to hinges between leaves pp. 96-97 and pp.112-113 of Chapman. Previous owner's ink inscription to first leaf of Frisch. Pages of Frisch are bright and clean, with slight age toning to Chapman, Dunning and Mace, heavier to final leaves of Mace. The odd spot to the extremities of Mace leaves. Very Good . Ill.: Herbert Mace; Various; Grimsby School of Arts and Crafts; Various. Very Good/Good.