1806 The Elements of Natural History By William Mavor - Illustrated Antique Book

With fifty wonderful copperplate engraved illustrations, here is a Georgian antique copy of The Elements of Natural History Chiefly Intended For the Use of Schools and Young Persons by William Mavord. Published in 1806 by Richard Phillips, London. With wear to the leather spine - condition in detail below.

Mavor designed this book to solve a specific problem in late-Georgian England. Before this era, natural history books were massive, extremely expensive, and aimed strictly at wealthy academics. Mavor wanted to create an accessible, affordable textbook. It serves as an introduction to the Linnaean taxonomic system, categorising the animal kingdom into Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Fish, Insects, and Worms.

The fifty full-page illustrations are the absolute highlight of the book. Because they were produced in 1806, they are intaglio copperplate engravings. While the native European animals are drawn accurately, the exotic creatures (like elephants, rhinoceroses, and whales) were often drawn by artists who had never seen them in person. They relied on written descriptions or skins brought back by explorers. This gives the plates an incredibly charming, slightly stylised appearance typical of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Inside the pages are clean and tightly bound. There is an inked name to an early blank endpaper - elegantly realised in handwriting we simply cannot match today! No other writing or markings of previous ownership.

In the original full calf-leather. This has a good deal of wear. There is a split down the length of the spine, and also loss of the leather at the head and tail. Scuffing and rubbing to boards. The front board has a name label in the centre. Despite the cracking of the spine, the binding is holding tight and strong.

Your antique copy of The Elements of Natural History will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to add a gift card with a message to the parcel.

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H 18.5 cm x W 12 cm, 329 pages, 0.37 kg.

* If you would prefer for your book not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging please add a note to the order.

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