Published by John Murray: London 1878
In Original Gilt Decorated Cloth Bindings - All Illustrations Present As Called For.
Provenance: Ex
George Bennett, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1804-1893)
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Charles St. John's Sketches Of The Wild Sports & Natural History Of The Highlands is one of the classic nineteenth-century accounts of sporting life and natural history in the Scottish Highlands. First published in 1846, the work grew from St. John's personal journals and observations made during years spent in northern Scotland, particularly Morayshire. Combining the eye of the naturalist with the experiences of the sportsman, St. John records the habits of Highland wildlife alongside vivid accounts of the landscape, people and sporting traditions of the region.
The work ranges widely across grouse and wildfowl shooting, deer stalking, salmon and trout fishing, falconry, poaching and gamekeeping, while also providing detailed observations of eagles, wildcats, otters, seals, deer and numerous species of birds and fish. St. John was particularly admired for describing animals within their natural surroundings rather than merely cataloguing them, giving the book an engaging mixture of field observation, anecdote and sporting adventure. The work became sufficiently popular to pass through seven editions before the publication of this important 1878 edition.
Published by John Murray in London, this 1878 Illustrated Edition is the first illustrated edition of the work, produced specifically to provide a substantial pictorial accompaniment to St. John's celebrated descriptions. It contains numerous engraved illustrations of Highland scenery, wildlife and sporting episodes, including deer stalking, grouse shooting and salmon fishing, with work by noted artists including Harrison Weir, Charles Whymper and A. C. Corbould, engraved on wood by J. W. Whymper. This example retains its attractive original publisher's green cloth bindings, decorated in gilt with a striking wildcat and game bird design to the front board, with all illustrations present as called for.
Of particular interest is the distinguished Australian natural-history provenance of this copy. Affixed to the front pastedown is the engraved bookplate of George Bennett, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1804-1893). Bennett was an eminent surgeon, traveller and naturalist who settled in Australia, served as the first Secretary and Curator of the Australian Museum, corresponded with leading zoologists including Richard Owen, and published the important Wanderings in New South Wales (1834) and Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia (1860). The wording and credentials on the bookplate correspond directly with Bennett's documented professional title, making the attribution particularly compelling. His ownership gives this copy a highly appropriate association: an important Victorian work of natural history and field observation from the personal library of one of nineteenth-century Australia's notable pioneering naturalists.
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General wear, bumping and fading etc to covers and spine as shown. Binding is relaxed and a couple of page clusters sit proud. There are no loose pages however binding in general is quite fragile. Bookplate present as described. All illustrations present as called for. Pages typically clean and well presented with some age toning and light foxing present. A decent copy with excellent provenance, complete in 338 pages. Please study photos to further understand condition.
