Beschreibung:

GOULD, John (1804-1881). The Mammals of Australia. London: Taylor and Francis for the Author, [May 1845-May] 1863. 3 volumes. 2pp. subscribers' list. 182 FINE HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, most heightened with gum-arabic, by Gould and Henry Constantine Richter, printed by Hullmandel & Walton. (Light browning and occasional very light soiling to outer blank margins of plates, the 15th plate in vol.II with 20mm. tear to outer blank margin.). [ Bound with :] [John GOULD. A Monograph of the Macropodidae or Family of Kangaroos. London: by the Author, August 1841-May 1842]. 2 original parts (all published) bound at the back of vol.III of The Mammals . 30 FINE HAND-COLOURED PLATES by H.C. Richter after Richter and Gould, printed by Hullmandel, extra-illustrated with the upper wrapper to parts I and II, both backed onto paper, mounted on guards and bound in appropriate positions. 2 works in 3 volumes, large 2° (555 x 380mm). Green half morocco gilt, spines in seven compartments with raised bands, the bands flanked by fillets in gilt and blind, lettered in the second and fourth compartments, the others with repeat decoration of a large centrally-placed flower-spray tool, t.e.g (scuffed, spines faded and rubbed). A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF GOULD'S WORK ON THE MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA: "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKS EVER ATTEMPTED BY GOULD" (R.Bowdler Sharpe), here BOUND WITH HIS UNCOMPLETED MONOGRAPH ON THE KANGAROO. The second work was abandoned by Gould after two of the projected three parts had appeared. He gave a lack of accurate specimens as the main reason for discontinuing the project and no title or index were ever issued. Fifteen of the plates were reprinted in the Mammals , two with minor revisions, but the other fifteen plates were completely redrawn for the later work. The Mammals was issued, as with all Gould's great natural history monographs, in parts. The first appeared on 1 May 1845 and the final 13th part on 1 May 1863. The first 12 parts each included 15 plates (an inticing mixture of the exciting with the less interesting, each with descriptive and informative text), the final part included only two plates together with all the preliminary titles, text and indices. The completed work was a sumptuous production which contributed much to the history, documentation and illustration of numerous species, too many of which are now extinct. BM(NH) II,p.701; Nissen ZBI 1661 & 1662; Sauer 11 & 14; Wood p.365. John GOULD An Introduction to the Mammals of Australia . London: Taylor & Francis for the Author, 1863. 8° (214 x 137mm). 2pp. prospectus and advertisment for other works by Gould at end. (Small section of outer blank margin torn away and repaired, some light spotting.) Original red cloth, blocked in blind, upper cover lettered in gilt (spine worn, some light soiling to covers). Provenance : Count Paul Edmund de Strzelecki (1796-1873, author's presentation inscription to title, dated 1863); Bibliothek der zoologischen Gesellschaft, Hamburg (ink stamp to title). VERY RARE: 'I have had a limited number of copies [of this work] printed... for distribution among my scientific friends and others' (notice). The text is almost identical to that in the Mammals . Count Strzelecki oversaw the production of the Physical description of New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land (London, 1845) which included a list of 'the recent Mammalia and Aves' by Gould. BM(NH) II,p.701; Sauer 24; Wood p.365. (4)