Lot 251

Pennant, Thomas [J.A. Harvie-Brown's copy]

British Zoology

£1,250

Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs

Auction: 23 June 2021 at 11:00 BST

Description

London: B. White, 1768-1768, vol. 3 Chester 1769, vol. 4 Chester 1770. 4 volumes, 8vo, engraved plates, many of the birds coloured by hand, interleaved copy with interesting contemporary marginal notes probably by Rev. E.H.W. Way of Denham near Uxbridge, modern quarter calf, marbled sides, morocco labels, bookplate of J.A. Harvie-Brown re-inlaid to front endpaper, stamp on titles only of Royal Scottish Museum, with Cancelled stamp

Footnote

Note: An interesting copy, formerly belonging to J.A. Harvie-Brown. A manuscript letter bound in to J.A. Harvie Brown from Professor Alfred Newman of Magdalene College Cambridge, addressed to "my dear Brown", discusses the edition and the likely former owner who has annotated some of the interleaves. Newman believes on the evidence put forward presumably by Harvie Brown that the mostly likely former owner was the Rev. E.H.W. Way of Denham near Uxbridge. Newman states is that Denham is "where the Reed Warbler was first clearly recognised - see Yarrell, ed. 4, i. p.369" and enquires whether the present copy contains any mention of the fact. He also mentions that Gladstone visited the college the previous week where he planted a tree, which had been swiftly stolen. At the end a note from William Wesley to J.A. Harvie Brown regarding the book is bound in.