The Zoological Miscellany: being Descriptions of New, or Interesting Animals

Very good complete set of both volumes (all published) of this rare zoological masterpiece

Two volumes (bound in one) of the continuation of the 24-volume Naturalist's Miscellany by George Shaw

With all 120 engraved plates in superb hand-colour

Subjects include the critically endangered American burying beetle or giant carrion beetle, Nicrophorus americanus, and the black abalone, Haliotis cracherodii, as well as many birds, insects, butterflies, marine creatures, crustaceans, shells and a few reptiles and mammals.

Although the publisher is listed as E. Nodder (Elizabeth Nodder, Richard's mother) on the title page of Vol. I, Richard Nodder's name appears on the title page of Vol II and on most of the plates in both volumes as artist, engraver and publisher.

With title page and index pages to both volumes, dedication to Sir Joseph Banks in Vol. 1, 120 hand-coloured engraved plates, and advertisement announcing Volume III to appear 1st January 1817 (never published) at rear.

William Elford Leach (1791-1836) was an English zoologist and marine biologist. A prodigy, he became Assistant Librarian at the Natural History Department of the British Museum from 1813, and soon rose to Assistant Keeper. Apart from this volume, he also wrote monographs on crabs and molluscs, systematically catalogued the specimens of British mammals and birds in the museum before suffering a nervous breakdown in 1821 that caused him to resign the following year. He died of cholera in Italy in 1836.

Richard Polydore Nodder (1774-1820) was an English illustrator, painter and engraver. After his father Frederick Nodder's death in around 1801, Richard continued to draw and engrave the majority of the plates in George Shaw's Naturalist's Miscellany and all the plates in the Zoological Miscellany. A gifted painter, Richard later exhibited animal subjects at the Royal Academy and became botanical artist to King George III.

In green morocco half leather binding, spine with five raised bands and gilt title, gilt volume number Vol=1 [sic], No. 1=120, brown paper boards rubbed, spine ends and corners scuffed and chipped, book block solid. Some offsetting and spotting to text pages, especially at rear, but almost all plates clean and bright with vibrant handcolour, a few with faint offsetting from the text pages.

A very good set of this rare zoological work.