Arctic Zoology (and Supplement)

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Beautifully illustrated work on Arctic & American natural history by the noted British naturalist. 3 volumes bound in 2, which includes the Supplement, complete, with 24 B&W plates, 2 vignettes plus 2 large maps. VG. First editions, 1784 , 85 & 1787, re-spined in quarter tan calf over red marbled boards, some blind tooling. Spines, raised bands, ink tooling, gilt titles to red & black morocco labels. Vol 1, 1784, Quadrupeds, frontis, title page with vignette, [10], [1], (ii-ccii), [5] index, [[1], [1], 2-185 pp; Vol 2, Birds & the Supplement, 1785 & 1787, title page with vignette, [3], 188-586 pp, [12] index, [1] errata, [1]. [3], 1857, Supplement, (iv-viii), [1], 2-163 pp, [1] adverts. Contains: 1 engraved frontis, 23 engraved plates (1 folding), 2 large folding maps, 2 engraved vignettes, modern endpapers. Most of these plates are ornithological, but there are some examples of caves, rocks, antiquities, Tomahawk, Elk, Avocet, Curlew & a rare plate & vignette of a Moose after George Stubbs. Described birds & quadrupeds on Britain, Shetlands, Scandinavia, Russia, Asia, Arctic, Alaska, America, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, as well as reptiles, fish, insects & shells. Some spotting to text - on a few pages quite heavy. Darkening on some of the pages, occasional offsetting, plates generally very clean, maps skilfully repaired to verso. A nicely bound set, rarely found complete. (242*187 mm). (Arctic Bib. 13291. Cox II 20. Casey Wood p. 516 & Freeman 2963 (both incorrectly calling for 23 plates). JCB II 2992. Lada-Mocarski 38. Sabin 59757. TPL 573 (without supplement). Wickersham 6822-23. cfLande 1389). A comprehensive survey of the fauna of the Arctic and sub-Arctic world, including northern Europe, Asia, & North America. Pennant aimed to collect, organize, & evaluate existing knowledge rather than rely solely on personal observation. The work draws on explorers' accounts, travelers' reports, museum specimens, & correspondence with other naturalists.