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"May blessings be upon the head of Cadmus, the Phoenicians, or whoever it was that invented books." -Thomas Carlyle
Welcome to my virtual book collection. Since collecting actual books is somewhat cost-prohibitive, I've begun to amass all of the books I would love to have if I had the means. Some are new, lots are old, all are unique or beautiful or unusual or in some other way have captured my fancy. Enjoy browsing!
Special Collections: Fine Bindings ~ Fairies and Fairy Tales ~ Terror and Madness ~ Poetry ~ Food, Drink and Apothecary ~ Science Fiction ~ Illuminations, Lettering and Hand-Coloring ~ Magic ~ Supernatural and Occult ~ Alchemy ~ Science and Technical ~ Maritime ~ Costumes ~ Humor ~ Children's books ~ Legend of King Arthur ~ Americana ~ 18th Century ~ 19th Century Authors and illustrators: Edgar Allan Poe ~ Jules Verne ~ Edmund Dulac ~ Kay Nielsen ~ Arthur Rackham ~ Edward Gorey ~ Charles Dickens ~ H.P. Lovecraft ~ William Hope Hodgson ~ Mark Twain ~ Lewis Carroll ~ Salvador Dali ~ George Cruikshank ~ Emily Dickinson ~ Geoffrey Chaucer ~ H.G. Wells
Two works by Charles Darwin
D. Appleton & Company. New York, 1896.
Includes: Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World. * Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands and Parts of South America Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. Two volumes, original half red morocco and marbled boards. Reprints.
The Savage World - 1889.

The Savage World Natural History - Illustrated
J.W. BuelThis work is founded upon the theory of the progression of species and in accordance with the genetic revelation, scriptural truths, and the harmony of nature; with an introduction describing the geological ages, changes in the earth’s crusts, fossil remains of extinct animals, and monsters of the ancient seas, replete with anecdote, incident and adventure, illustrative of the habits of the animals described, abounding with thrilling experiences, wonderful discovery, exciting episodes and descriptions of the marvelous curiosities of nature in all parts of the globe. Embellished with over 1500 elegant engravings illustrating the animals of the earth in their natural condition.
submitted by photosymphony
B-A Note: Beautiful binding! Thank you for submitting it.
MERCKLEIN, Georg Abraham
Neu ausgefertigtes historisch-medicinisches Thier-Buch in vier besonderen
Nuremberg, Johan Friedrich Rüdiger, 1714. 8vo. Contemporary vellum. Double-page engraved allegorical frontispiece engraved by Johan Lorentz Hönnig (Nurenberg), title printed in red and black on two facing pages, 95 full-page engraved plates each depicting two, three or more animals. [26], 732, [72] pp.
Second edition of a pre-Linnean work on natural history, describing in 4 parts respectively the names, appearance, characteristics, qualities and habitat of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and invertebrates, together with their medicinal purposes and use, by the German physician Georg Abraham Mercklein (or Mercklin(us)) (1644-1702). Mercklein frequently cites (classical) authorities in the fields of medicine and natural history like Galenus and Aristotle. The first edition of the Thier-Buch was published at Nürnberg by Johann Zieger in 1696. Another edition appeared at Nürnberg in 1739. Not only real animals are included, Mercklein also describes and illustrates four species of unicorns (plate between pp. 28-29) and a dragon (p. 611). The characteristics of the silkworm are to be found on pp. 678-687. At the end an index which lists the animals, illnesses and cures.
Fire Fountains: The Kingdom of Hawaii, Its Volcanoes, and the History of its Missions
Cumming, C.F. Gordon. Edinburgh, William Blackwood, 1883.
The author sailed to Hawaii in 1879, visiting Oahu, the big island, and Maui. She saw most of the sights, particularly the volcanic ones, and includes a long second-hand account of the 1880-1881 eruptions of Mauna Loa.
Botanologia.The English Herbal: or, History of Plants
William Salmon. I.Dawks for H.Rhodes and J.Taylor, 1710.
First Edition.
Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particuliére
Buffon (George Louis le Clerc, Comte de). Paris, Imprimerie Royale, 1755-82
European Butterflies and Moths
William F. Kirby. 1898.
62 plates, most colour, many finished by hand, tissue guards, some spotting, original pictorial cloth, gilt.
Illustrations of the Fungi of Our Fields and Woods
First & Second Series, together 2 vol
Sarah Price. 1864-65.
20 hand-coloured lithographed plates, captioned guards, occasional light foxing, subscriber’s copy with ink stamp of T.F.Ravenshaw at head of front free endpaper, printed note to subscribers tipped to front pastedown.
B-A Note: I have this one in mind especially for graveyarddirt. :P
The Illustrated Bouquet consisting of Figures with Descriptions of New Flowers
Henderson (Edward George& Andrew). 1857-9
81 hand-coloured zincotype plates of flowers only (of 85, lacking plates 36, 37, 48 & 57), 5 double-page (one trimmed and with caption folded in), one or two heightened with gum arabic, lithographed plan and double-page tinted lithographed view of Henderson’s nursery, the latter with partial hand-colouring.
The Art of Falconry
Frederic II von Hohenstaufen
A magnificient book on falconry—the first
major work in European history—written in
2nd half of 13th century
Cats 1820
From - Animal biography : or, authentic anecdotes of the lives, manners, amd economy, of the animal creation, arranged according to the system of Linneaus / By the Rev. William Bingley. via crackdog on flickr
The Aquarium
Its Inhabitants, Structure, and Management
by
J.E. Taylor, Ph.D, F.L.S., F.G.S., Etc.
It is bound in the original gilt decorated publisher’s binding and after more than 130 years, still makes a very attractive sight as seen in the photograph. All page edges are gilt, the lightly tanned text block is securely held in the slightly cracked binding with dark chocolate endpapers and a previous owner’s bookplate is on the front fixed endpaper.
nrkn:
four footed lovers
1875
By Frank Albertsen. Illustrated by Lizbeth Bullock Humphrey
“Animate Creation” 1885 Illustrated Book Set 6 Vol. Antique illustrated natural history book set. “Animate Creation… Our Living World, A Natural History,” J. G. Wood, revised and adapted to American Zoology by Joseph B. Holder, MD., “Fully Illustrated With Scientific Accuracy, Selmar Hess, New York, 1885, six volumes, each measuring 13 X 10 inches. Covers have beautiful gilt embossed designs which are still bright and clean. Books are illustrated throughout with both color and black and white prints.
“A well worn and battered nature book from childhood is the first place I look for identifying animal tracks in the snow. I’m unlikely to see a wildcat or a marten, or even an otter … but I’ve always liked this back page. :)” ~penwren on Flickr via

![MERCKLEIN, Georg AbrahamNeu ausgefertigtes historisch-medicinisches Thier-Buch in vier besonderen
Nuremberg, Johan Friedrich Rüdiger, 1714. 8vo. Contemporary vellum. Double-page engraved allegorical frontispiece engraved by Johan Lorentz Hönnig (Nurenberg), title printed in red and black on two facing pages, 95 full-page engraved plates each depicting two, three or more animals. [26], 732, [72] pp.
Second edition of a pre-Linnean work on natural history, describing in 4 parts respectively the names, appearance, characteristics, qualities and habitat of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and invertebrates, together with their medicinal purposes and use, by the German physician Georg Abraham Mercklein (or Mercklin(us)) (1644-1702). Mercklein frequently cites (classical) authorities in the fields of medicine and natural history like Galenus and Aristotle. The first edition of the Thier-Buch was published at Nürnberg by Johann Zieger in 1696. Another edition appeared at Nürnberg in 1739. Not only real animals are included, Mercklein also describes and illustrates four species of unicorns (plate between pp. 28-29) and a dragon (p. 611). The characteristics of the silkworm are to be found on pp. 678-687. At the end an index which lists the animals, illnesses and cures.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrw2q8fV0m1qabm59o1_500.jpg)







