Lot 189
Shaw, George
General Zoology or Systematic Natural History
Auction: 02 October 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
from the first Authorities and most select specimens. London: for G. Kearsley, 1800-09. 7 volumes in 14, 8vo (23 x 11cm), contemporary diced russia gilt, 760 engraved plates mostly by James Heath or Mrs Griffiths, engraved additional vignette title-page to each volume, armorial bookplates to front pastedowns, small numerical ink inscriptions to endpapers, wormhole to half-title and contents page in volume 3, ownership inscriptions to a couple of letterpress titles, some damp staining but plates unaffected, volume 4 parts 1 and 2 spines misnumbered (14)
Footnote
The complete work includes an eighth volume on birds, published by Shaw, and five additional volumes published after Shaw's death, also on birds. George Shaw (1751-1813) taught botany at Oxford University and was a founding member of the Linnean Society. He was Keeper of Natural History at the British Museum from 1807 until his death. James Heath (1757–1834), the son of a bookbinder, was a highly regarded engraver and one of the few engravers to have been elected to the Royal Academy. He is known for his many illustrations in Walter Scott's work, particularly his novels.