Jacques Verschuren — Exploration Du Parc National de la Garamba

Bruxelles, M. Hayes, 1957. First edition. Paperback. The very scarce signed first edition of this French biologist's scientific study of the bats of the Congo's Garamba National Park. In the original French.The very scarce first edition of the biologist and ornithologist Jacques Verschuren's study of the bats of the National Garamba park of the Congo.Signed to the head of the title page by the author to 'Professeur L. Harisson - Matthews, hommage de l'auteur&apos. Leonard Harrison Matthews was a well regarded British zoologist, especially known for his research and writings on marine mammals.Illustrated with numerous vignette illustrations and photographs, and with a colour plate and folding map to the rear. From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, 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 paper wraps. Externally, clean and bright. Edge wear to back strip head and tail, and tail of front and rear wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good Indeed .