The mammals of South Africa.
London: R.H. Porter, 1900. Two volumes in one. 4to. xxx, 324; xii, 241 pp., plus 28-page publisher’s catalogue. FIRST EDITION. With the title page of the series before the title to Volume I, folding map and 150 text illustrations, bibliography in Volume I. Green cloth, spine labels; an excellent copy from the Library of Dr. James M. Dolan with his stamp on the first title. Item #16313
First edition of the most comprehensive account of the mammals in the geographical area between the Cunene and Zambesi Rivers. The two volumes are part of a six-volume work begun by Stark in 1900 and completed in 1906. Sclater, Director of the South African Museum in Cape Town, describes small and large mammals, providing their physical description, dimensions, distribution and habits. Much of the material is derived from observations of his numerous correspondents. The illustrations were lent by the Committee of Publication of the Zoological Society of London.
Sclater (1863-1944), son of the well-known ornithologist Philip Lutley Sclater, was a British zoologist and curator of the South African Museum. During his time spent in South Africa he completed his Flora and Fauna of South Africa and the four volume Birds of South Africa. After he resigned, he moved to Colorado Springs in America before returning to England in 1909 to become curator of the Bird Room at the Natural History Museum.
Price: $300.00