The Naturalist's Cabinet, or Interesting Sketches of Animal History; Illustrative of the Natures, Dispositions, Manners, and Habits, of all the most remarkable Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Amphibia, Reptiles &c

London : James Cundee, 1806 A good copy of this scarce 6 volume work bound in 3 volumes. With 58 (of 60) hand coloured plates and 6 hand coloured vignette title pages. An account of natural history based around observation and reading mixed with anecdotes and tales relating to the animal in question. The illustrator (anonymous) has then produced some extraordinary illustrations including an orang utan at the dining table, a flock of herons attacking rooks, a boxing kangaroo, and a man riding an ostrich, and a sneaking crocodile. Rev Smith refers to himself as an 'editor' rather than an author - but there are no clues as to contributors. Originally planned in 4 volumes, Vol 5 and 6 (covering fish, amphibians, insects and other invertebrates) were added in 1807. Each volume has a frontispiece, a hand coloured vignette title page, and a plain title page. According to the directions to the binder at the end of Vol 6, there should be 60 plates - this copy is lacking a frontispiece of a turkey and a plate showing a bulldog and a monkey. In contemporary full leather bindings with newer plain spines with title and volume labels. The bindings have wear to edges and corners and the odd scuff mark. Marbled endpapers and page edges. All have a bookplate of Tom Nightingale to the front pastedown and there is a signature of William Baine October 1889 to the top of preliminary blank in Vol 3. Paper quality varies - with some pages brown toned - and there is occasional spotting and light marking. The plates vary in the quality of the colouring. 2 plates and 2 pages have small repaired edge tears. Some page edges have been turned over at some point. An interesting work.